China national football team suffers historic 0-5 loss to Palestine

The China national men's football team suffered a historic 0-5 defeat against Palestine during the Chongqing International Football Invitational on October 2. This loss marks the first time China has ever lost to Palestine in their head-to-head history.

Palestine's goals were scored by Asad Hamrawi (who recorded a brace), Uday Dabbagh (who also scored twice), and Ahmed Al-Qaq. The match, held at the Chongqing Longxing Football Stadium, served as preparation for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

The heavy defeat has sparked intense criticism from Chinese media and fans, who pointed to defensive errors and a lack of tactical execution. Following the match, head coach Shao Jiayi apologized, stating he had no excuses for the result.

Public outcry also intensified after the coaching staff arranged for 17-year-old Zhao Songyuan to handle post-match media interviews instead of senior players or the head coach. This decision was widely condemned by netizens as an attempt to shield veteran players from accountability.