page_title: Football in China
hierarchical_section_title: Football in China
caption_attribution_description: 中文: 大连体育中心体育馆
context_page_description: Football in China consists of association football as well as the China national football team. Modern football has been one of the most well supported sports in China, since it was introduced in the early 20th century. The country was recognised by former FIFA president Joseph "Sepp" Blatter as the first to invent football, 5000 years ago through Cuju, an ancient Chinese ball game. English sources claim that football was officially formalised in England in 1863, originating from a simple game that had been played for many centuries between villages in England, while maintaining that the word "invention" was really a global collaboration between many civilizations besides these two.
  The national governing body is the Chinese Football Association. Hong Kong and Macau have separate national teams and leagues. Association football is the most popular spectator sport in China, followed by basketball.
  According to FIFA ranking on 10 August 2017, the Men's National Team is ranked 77th in the world, and according to FIFA women's world rankings on 23 June 2017, the Women's National Team is ranked 14th.
context_section_description: Football in China consists of association football (Chinese: 足球; pinyin: zúqiú) as well as the China national football team. Modern football has been one of the most well supported sports in China, since it was introduced in the early 20th century. The country was  recognised by former FIFA president Joseph "Sepp" Blatter as the first to invent football, 5000 years ago through Cuju, an ancient Chinese ball game (although there are rule differences between Cuju or Tsu' Chu and modern association football). English sources claim that football was officially formalised in England in 1863, originating from a simple game that had been played for many centuries between villages in England, while maintaining that the word "invention" was really a global collaboration between many civilizations besides these two.
  The national governing body is the Chinese Football Association (CFA). Hong Kong and Macau have separate national teams and leagues. Association football is the most popular spectator sport in China, followed by basketball.
  According to FIFA ranking on 10 August 2017, the Men's National Team is ranked 77th in the world, and according to FIFA women's world rankings on 23 June 2017, the Women's National Team is ranked 14th.
caption: Home stadium of club Dalian Yifang F.C.
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