Team China missed the World Cup, China didn't

As Chinese football fans join the world in celebrating this global sporting event, they may lament the absence of China's national team. Yet, reassuringly, though team China missed the World Cup, China didn't.

"Made in China" powers a smoother World Cup

A seamless World Cup experience is never a given. From signal transmission and live broadcasting to venue operations and fan services, every glitch-free moment relies on massive data flows, robust computing systems, and cutting-edge digital technologies operating behind the scenes. Increasingly, this technological backbone is built on Chinese innovation and advanced manufacturing.

Take global broadcast delivery for example. Lenovo has deployed more than 17,000 proprietary servers and terminals across match venues, training facilities, and data centers, cutting broadcast latency to less than five seconds to deliver high-quality live feeds to audiences worldwide. AI-enabled tools ensure millions of viewers can catch every pivotal moment with near-zero delay and maximum immersion.

Modern football matches are won or lost by margins as small as centimeters and milliseconds. Calls on offside, handball, and goal validity can no longer rely on human eyesight alone, making Video Assistant Referee systems indispensable to upholding competitive fairness.

At this World Cup, Hisense displays have been rolled out en masse at global VAR operation centers. Their ultra-high-definition resolution and industry-leading color accuracy enable referees to review critical incidents with far greater precision, minimizing the risk of game-changing errors and safeguarding the integrity of the sport.

China's technological contributions even extend to the official match ball. Named Trionda, the 2026 World Cup's official match ball is fully manufactured in China, fitted with a smart sensor system housing a 500Hz chip that captures data on the ball's trajectory, speed, spin, and directional shifts 500 times per second. That is exactly the technology that settled the disputed call in the Sweden-Tunisia match. After Svanberg's strike was initially flagged offside, the ball's ultra-precise touch timestamp data prompted a reversal of the call, confirming the goal's validity.

Chinese technology was undoubtedly featured prominently in the tournament's core operations. This was enabled by China's years of investment in innovation and the digital economy.

Chinese infrastructure paves the way

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the largest in the tournament's history, spanning three host countries, 16 host cities, 48 teams, and over 100 matches. Hosting an event of this scale poses unprecedented demands on transportation networks and urban infrastructure.

Here again, Chinese expertise is making a tangible difference.

In Mexico, the iconic Estadio Azteca — forever linked to football legends Pelé and Diego Maradona — underwent a comprehensive renovation ahead of the tournament. Chinese engineering firms participated in the upgrade of the historic venue, equipping it to write a new chapter in World Cup history.

China's infrastructure contributions extend far beyond the World Cup host nations. Across multiple developing countries, Chinese-constructed stadiums have provided critical sporting infrastructure, helping local national teams pursue their World Cup ambitions. These projects are far more than concrete and steel structures — they represent investments in opportunity, development, and deeper international sports exchanges.

Transportation links connecting Mexico's three host cities also rely heavily on Chinese-manufactured equipment. Of the 800 new energy buses deployed in Mexico City, 95 percent were made in China. A total of 115 light rail trains manufactured by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation were also put into service across the three cities, carrying 1.25 million passengers per day. Wherever fans converged, Chinese-built infrastructure kept the tournament running without a hitch.

China's standardized, eco-friendly and smart infrastructure solutions not only helped host countries address immediate operational challenges, but also left long-term legacy assets for local communities.

Chinese design immerses fans in the celebration

If technology and infrastructure form the backbone of the World Cup, culture, design, and official merchandise are its soul. Scarves, flags, wristbands, vuvuzelas, and a vast array of other souvenirs are core to the fan experience. Long before the tournament's opening kickoff, Chinese manufacturers were operating at full capacity to meet surging demand from markets across the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and beyond.

China's footprint at the World Cup now extends well beyond technology and infrastructure to culture and creative industries. Chinese intellectual property and original designs made their mark on the global stage, as demonstrated by the debut of a football-themed Labubu figurine at the tournament's opening ceremony, a visible marker of this broader transformation.

For decades, China was known primarily as the world's factory. Today, it is increasingly recognized as a wellspring of original ideas, creative designs, and compelling cultural narratives. The Chinese elements featured across World Cup venues are no longer just mass-produced goods — they represent a distinct Chinese aesthetic that is being seen, embraced, and shared by audiences across the globe.

Beyond the pitch, China's presence at the 2026 World Cup reflects a much larger story of national transformation. In a world facing mounting uncertainty and volatility, China continues to contribute its technological, infrastructure, and creative strengths to global events, helping inject greater stability and confidence into global cooperation.

The author is a commentator on international affairs.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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