China wins first Asian Games football medal in 28 years

China's under-23 football team secured bronze at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan's Aichi-Nagoya region, defeating Uzbekistan in a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw. The victory marks China's first medal in football at the Asian Games in 28 years.

The achievement comes after the Chinese side finished as runners-up at the Under-23 Asian Cup in February. The team's coach expressed optimism about the squad's trajectory, stating there is a fantastic future ahead for Chinese football.