China walks path toward World Cup dream

China is stepping up efforts to improve its school soccer program so that it may one day realize its World Cup dreams.

Solid progress on China's national school soccer program over the past three years bodes well for the quest, while more support in facilities and training expertise would help beef up the effort, the Ministry of Education said.

"The number of students practicing soccer consistently on campus has significantly increased, and so has their level of play over the past three years," said Wang Dengfeng, director of physical education, health and arts education at the ministry.