Soccer young guns take 'wild route' to glory road

Trial by fire

A central pillar of Dong's model is constant exposure to international competition.

In early June, a mixed U16 and U17 squad from the program arrived in Sao Paulo, Brazil, after competing in the Netherlands. The players were scheduled to face youth teams from Brazilian clubs such as Sao Paulo, Palmeiras, and Santos.

"Even if we lose by a large margin, we must play against peers of the same age," Dong said. "Only then can we understand where we truly stand."

For many players, the experience has been formative.

One of the squad members, Yuan Bohan, said after one match in Brazil, he noticed the difference in the pace and intensity of the game. "The rhythm is completely different from what we experience domestically," he said. "Winning and losing both matter, because what we lack most is the experience of winning at this level."

Despite losing, the Chinese team still managed to express its own style of play. "We hope to learn from Brazilian soccer and bring that mentality back to China," he said.

In an environment of constant testing, individual breakthroughs have begun to emerge.

On June 3, Chinese player Li Haoyan, 14, officially joined FC Barcelona's famed La Masia academy at U15 level. He instantly became one of the most closely watched Chinese youth players to enter Spain's elite development system.

Born in Dalian, Liaoning province in 2012, Haoyan first trained at a grassroots club founded by his father, before joining Dong's program at age 10. At age 13, he moved to Spain to pursue soccer full-time.

Adapting to a new country proved challenging. Language barriers and daily life adjustments were significant obstacles. He reportedly wrote tactical instructions on his palm during matches and added extra training sessions on his own initiative.

In the 2025-26 season, Haoyan played 28 league matches with CF Damm. He contributed 12 goals and 12 assists, helping his team finish seventh in a 16-team regional division.

Known for his pace and versatility, Haoyan attracted attention from several Spanish clubs before Barcelona finalized his signing.

"I want to thank every fan who has supported me on the journey to this dream," Haoyan wrote on social media. "This is a new environment and a new challenge, and I will stay focused, train hard, and cherish the opportunity to develop in one of the world's best youth academies.

"I will steadily improve myself, carry the original aspiration of representing my country with pride, and give everything I have to keep moving forward," he wrote.