The Chinese national football team held its second-to-last training session ahead of the highly anticipated World Cup qualifier against Iran at the Shenyang Olympic Sports Center. With match day approaching, the team has shifted into tactical preparation mode, focusing heavily on refining defensive strategies. Small adjustments in defensive player positions are also expected as part of the final lineup.
Coach Gao Hongbo emphasized the same fighting spirit shown against South Korea, but this time he added an extra focus on ball possession. On the offensive end, quick counterattacks remain a key priority. In preparation for this match, the stadium’s turf was completely re-turfed back in June, prompting Liaoning Hongyun to temporarily relocate their Chinese Super League home games to the Tiexi Stadium. Recent light rain in Shenyang has cleared, with daytime heat balanced by cooler evening temperatures—ideal conditions for a smooth match.
Players praised the field’s condition during training, saying it would help maintain fluid play throughout the game. National team members Huang Bowen and Li Xuepeng, both from Guangzhou Evergrande, expressed confidence during interviews, stating that the team atmosphere is relaxed and mentally prepared for a tough showdown against Iran.
Off the pitch, the Chinese Football Association has gone the extra mile by conducting a thorough background check on the appointed referee—Adham Makhadmeh of Jordan. Born in 1987, Makhadmeh became a FIFA-accredited referee in 2013 and has since officiated 32 international matches. His most notable appearance came during the AFC U23 Championship in Doha earlier this year. Although he’s never officiated a match involving China’s national team, he did oversee a 2015 AFC Champions League match in which Guangzhou R&F suffered a 0–5 defeat to Gamba Osaka.
Interestingly, Makhadmeh has a history of penalizing home teams more frequently—awarding more penalties and issuing more cards against the host side. To prepare for this, Liu Hu, head of the CFA’s referee department, has arrived in Shenyang. He not only shared comprehensive information about the referee with the coaching staff but is also planning a public briefing for local sports media to better understand the match’s officiating dynamics.
On the technical front, Team China has secured complete video footage of Iran’s first qualifying match. Despite their strong reputation, Iran underperformed in that game, and there were even player outbursts over refereeing decisions. This reinforces the need for China to stay vigilant about potential officiating challenges during their own match.
Iran held its first training session in Shenyang last night, with only 15 players participating. Most of the starting lineup remained at the hotel to rest after a physically taxing match against Qatar. Several players are reportedly fatigued, and there are confirmed injuries among the starters. Notably, Iranian winger Ashkan Dejagah—formerly of VfL Wolfsburg and Fulham—underwent an MRI scan at Shengjing Hospital for a leg injury and remains doubtful for the match.
Another key player is battling a severe cold and may also miss the game. Iran has chosen to remain tight-lipped about its injury list, revealing nothing specific to the media. As the saying goes, “forewarned is forearmed”—and China appears to be using every ounce of that wisdom to prepare for a crucial battle on and off the pitch.
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