The national football team has decided to skip the ASEAN Cup and will instead invite four teams for domestic training sessions.

Reported by journalist Chen Yong Following the warm-up game with Thailand, the national team went to Zunyi for events before moving to Dalian to train alongside the U23 squad. As for the FIFA international windows in September and October, the senior side has decided against joining the ASEAN Cup and plans to host four opponents for four domestic friendlies.

During the June FIFA window, both the senior team and the U23 squad played two friendlies each. The senior team won 2-1 away against Singapore and drew 0-0 at home with Thailand. The failure to beat Thailand was disappointing, though the players showed good spirit and tactical execution, with weaknesses in defensive stability and attacking efficiency.

The U23 team played two friendlies against Tajikistan's U23 side in Zunyi and Guiyang, winning the first 1-0 and the second 3-0.

While in Dalian, both teams will work on issues revealed in their respective friendlies. Such post-match review is essential, as combining training with actual games drives improvement—something that was rarely possible in the past due to time constraints.

After the 0-0 draw with Thailand, Shao Jiayi said, "We created many chances in attack, and the players' focus and attitude were impeccable. We were just unlucky in scoring. From a coaching perspective, we need to incorporate more such finishing drills in training."

The significance of having both teams train in one location lies in joint practice. For the senior team, youth development must continue, requiring a better understanding of U23 players. In March, the senior team called up ten U23 players; this window saw seven. For the U23 side, they are considering overage players for the Asian Games, with discussions previously held between the Chinese Football Association and Antonio.

When selecting overage players for the U23 team, tactical discipline is the top priority—a core requirement from Antonio to maintain consistency in style. Next comes positional needs. However, both teams share a common problem: a shortage of quality midfielders. While overage players can boost the U23 team's strength, they are unlikely to bring a fundamental transformation.

Earlier, the FA had been evaluating whether to join the ASEAN Cup, but before this training camp, they basically decided to skip it. On June 8, the FA issued a notice soliciting host cities for the 2026 China Team International Invitational, officially abandoning the ASEAN Cup in favor of domestic friendlies.

The reason behind this decision is that September and October FIFA windows are combined, making this period crucial for Asian Cup preparations. The team needs to handle multiple aspects from tactics to personnel. In November's FIFA window and the buildup to the Asian Cup, further integration with U23 players, squad fine-tuning, and tactical refinement are necessary.

Under these circumstances, the national team must select warm-up opponents based on the Asian Cup group draw, which participating in the ASEAN Cup would not allow.

The plan is straightforward: invite four teams for four matches, held in at most two cities. In theory, two matches per city is one option. However, considering visiting teams also need game requirements, having one city host a single match first, while the other city hosts a four-team tournament (with cross fixtures) could also work, simulating the Asian Cup group stage.

Of course, the team will face several challenges: first, the U23 team will be at the Asian Games, meaning eligible young players cannot join the senior team's camp, significantly affecting preparations. Second, playing four consecutive matches raises concerns about schedule rationality, physical fatigue, and mental burnout. 13 years ago, the FA arranged three straight friendlies; the third ended in a collapse—a 1-5 loss to Thailand, while the first two (1-2 vs Uzbekistan, 0-2 vs Netherlands) were considered normal. Thus, both the FA in scheduling and the national team in player rotation and mental adjustment must be well prepared.

Since the establishment of the new national team, Shao Jiayi has demanded full effort in every game, including friendlies, treating them as official matches. Only then can the team perform consistently in real competitions. The four matches from September to October will serve as a comprehensive test for the new squad.