In China, there are two things that touch the hearts of countless families: one is the college entrance examination results of children, and the other is the performance of the Chinese men's football team. One concerns personal future, while the other symbolizes national honor; one continuously creates miracles year after year in the "thousands of troops crossing a single-log bridge," while the other sinks deeper and deeper into the quagmire of "repeated defeats."
We can't help but ask: why can Chinese children get into Tsinghua and Peking University through hard work, but we cannot cultivate a men's football team that can qualify for the World Cup? Is it true that Chinese football is really not as good as the college entrance examination?
1. College Entrance Examination: China's "National Sport," and the Most Fair Arena
Every June, China welcomes a war without gunpowder— the college entrance examination. This exam is imbued with too much significance: it is the only channel for children from ordinary families to change their fate, the hope of parents for their children to succeed, and an important window for social mobility.
According to data from the Ministry of Education, the number of candidates for the national college entrance examination in 2024 reached 13.42 million, with an admission rate of over 90%. Although the competition is fierce, it is undeniable that the college entrance examination is a relatively fair and transparent system design. It selects talents through standardized testing, emphasizes basic knowledge, logical thinking, and exam-taking ability, and has become an important measure of students' academic level.
More importantly, there is a complete educational system supporting the college entrance examination: from elementary school to high school, it progresses step by step; there are teacher training, textbook compilation, teaching outlines, mock exams, and volunteer applications, among other processes; and there is a high level of attention and resource investment from parents, schools, and society.
It can be said that the college entrance examination is a "system project" in which the whole nation participates.
2. Chinese Football: A "Failed Educational Experiment"
And what about Chinese football? Since the establishment of the national team in 1951, the Chinese team has only qualified for the World Cup once in 2002. In the twenty years since then, there have been multiple failed attempts to qualify for the World Cup, and the Asian ranking has dropped from the forefront to outside the top ten.
We have a population of 1.4 billion and the largest youth base in the world, theoretically, we should not lack football talent. But the reality is: our players have rough skills, weak tactical awareness, poor psychological quality, and a chaotic professional league. Even more distressing is that the youth training system is almost paralyzed, grassroots coaches are scarce, and campus football is merely formal.
Many people say: "Chinese football cannot compete with the college entrance examination." This statement sounds like a joke, but it reveals a cruel fact: we are more capable, patient, and systematic in cultivating a child who can enter Tsinghua or Peking University than in nurturing a player who can represent the country in the World Cup.
So the question arises: why can we use a system to send children to the exam room, but cannot use the same system to send them to the football field?
3. Why Can't Chinese Football Compete with the College Entrance Examination? Five Key Comparisons
1. Goal-Oriented vs. Vague Goals
The goal of the college entrance examination is very clear: to get into a good university. This goal is clear and quantifiable, and everyone knows what to do, how to work hard, and when to sprint.
In contrast, the goals of Chinese football have long been vague. Some say "qualify for the World Cup," some say "cultivate stars," and others say "revitalize the football industry." However, there is almost no concrete strategic planning, and the lack of phased goals leads to a lack of direction for the entire system.
2. Institutional Guarantee vs. Lack of Institutions
Behind the college entrance examination is a complete set of institutional guarantees: unified textbooks, standardized scoring, supervision mechanisms, information disclosure, and accountability for violations... every link has someone responsible and someone supervising.
And what about Chinese football? The management of the Football Association is chaotic, clubs frequently dissolve, youth training resources are unevenly distributed, referee controversies are frequent, and issues of match-fixing and gambling persist. The lack of institutions has plunged the entire industry into a state of disorder.
3. Long-Termism vs. Short-Term Achievements
The college entrance examination emphasizes "ten years of hard study," reflecting a long-term perspective. Even if you are not highly gifted, as long as you are willing to work hard, you have the chance to succeed.
In contrast, Chinese football is filled with short-term behaviors: frequent coaching changes, investments aimed at quick returns, and frequent hype around player transfers. Many investors come not for football, but for policy dividends, real estate support, and corporate publicity.
This shortsighted behavior has led to a lack of attention to youth training, stagnation in infrastructure development, and severe interruptions in talent cultivation.
4. Educational Resources vs. Football Resources
In China, quality educational resources are concentrated in cities, but even in rural areas, there are many training institutions, online course platforms, and tutoring materials available for children to learn.
In the field of football, however, true professional training resources are extremely scarce. Most children do not have access to professional coaches, proper venues, and scientific training methods. Many schools do not even have a qualified football field.
In other words, we are willing to invest tens of thousands of yuan in tutoring fees for a child's future, but we are unwilling to provide a suitable pair of football shoes for their football dreams.
5. Social Support vs. Social Indifference
If you fail the college entrance examination, parents will comfort you: "Try again next year!" Teachers will encourage you: "You are already great."
However, once Chinese football fails, what awaits them is often overwhelming criticism, insults, and even personal attacks. Players bear heavy psychological pressure, and a slight mistake can lead to being "canceled" by public opinion.
This extreme negative environment also makes many parents reluctant to let their children pursue a career in professional football.
4. The "College Entrance Examination Model" of Chinese Football: Is It Feasible?
Since the college entrance examination can succeed, can we draw on its experience to construct a development path for Chinese football similar to the "college entrance examination system"?
The answer is yes, but we must also recognize clearly: sports education is different from cultural education; it requires more practice, physical development, teamwork, and psychological construction. However, we can draw the following experiences from it:
1. Establish a Football Level Examination System
Referencing the "layered examination" concept of the college entrance examination, establish a four-level football level examination for elementary, middle, high school, and university as a standard for evaluating player growth. This not only helps in talent selection but also encourages more children to participate.
2. Promote Institutionalization of Campus Football
Incorporate football into the compulsory curriculum for primary and secondary schools, establish special teacher training programs, and provide professional venues and equipment. At the same time, establish a campus league system to create a normalized competition mechanism.
3. Create a "Football College Entrance Examination" Admission Channel
Establish a "football special talent" enrollment plan, set up football scholarship programs at key universities, attract outstanding players into the higher education system, and avoid the traditional prejudice that "playing football ruins studies."
4. Strengthen the Connection Between Professional Teams and Youth Training
Establish a complete pathway from campus to professional, connecting the U-series leagues with the reserve teams and first teams of the Chinese Super League to ensure a continuous flow of talent.
5. Enhance Public Opinion Guidance and Psychological Support
Change the single evaluation method for athletes, providing more tolerance and understanding for those who fail. At the same time, introduce psychological counseling mechanisms to help players cope with high-pressure environments.
5. The Future of Chinese Football: From "Not Competing with the College Entrance Examination" to "Surpassing the College Entrance Examination"
The problem with Chinese football has never been a simple issue of "not playing well," but rather a deep-seated educational, systemic, and social problem.
If we are willing to treat football with the same attitude we have towards the college entrance examination, willing to invest resources, time, and energy to build a systematic youth training system, and willing to give young people a chance and space to showcase their talents, then Chinese football is not beyond saving.
Japanese football took 30 years to grow from an Asian weakling to a regular participant in the World Cup; South Korea took 20 years to cultivate a group of world-class players; Germany rebuilt its youth training after a low point and ultimately won the World Cup.
Behind these successes are unwavering belief, systematic planning, and support from the entire society.
Chinese football does not need geniuses or miracles; it only needs a normal environment, reasonable systems, and continuous effort.
Perhaps one day, when our children can easily cope with the college entrance examination and confidently stand on the football field, the spring of Chinese football will truly arrive.
Conclusion: Don't Let Football Lose to the College Entrance Examination, Don't Let Dreams Stop at Scores
The college entrance examination is an important test in life, but it should not be everything in life.
Similarly, football is a sport, but it carries the spirit and cultural confidence of a nation.
The failure of Chinese football is not because Chinese people are not suited to play football, but because we have not given those children who want to play football a chance.
Let us re-examine the current situation of Chinese football, not just with ridicule and blame, but with thought and action.
May there come a day when we no longer lament that "Chinese football cannot compete with the college entrance examination," but proudly say: "Our children can both get into Tsinghua and play in the World Cup."
This is the confidence that a strong nation should have.