Soccer young guns take 'wild route' to glory road
Chinese boys team's prestigious international victory reflects new talent-spotting philosophy
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is underway, and while the Chinese men's national soccer team may not be in contention for the trophy, a group of young players has offered a glimpse of a possible bright future.
On June 2 in Turin, Italy, a Chinese boys' U12 team defeated the academy side of English Premier League club Everton 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out to claim the Sigismondi Cup. The tournament, often described in youth soccer circles as a "mini World Cup", featured 48 youth teams from around the world, including academies from major European clubs.
The Chinese side completed a perfect run, winning all seven of their matches, scoring 20 goals and conceding just one on their way to the title. They became the first Asian team to win the tournament.
When the decisive moment arrived in the final, 12-year-old Meng Xinyi from Nanjing, Jiangsu province, stepped up for the fifth penalty.
He began his run-up, struck the ball cleanly, and sent it into the corner. As the ball hit the net and the shoot-out ended 5-4, he tore off his jersey, threw it in the air, and did a backflip in celebration.
Supporters in the stands erupted. On the opposite side, the young players from Everton stood frozen, hands on their heads, watching the trophy slip away.
"I was very nervous walking up," Xinyi said later. "But I also told myself I had to trust my instincts. When the ball went in, it felt incredible."
His approach to taking penalties is simple and built on self-belief. "No matter how the goalkeeper tries to distract you, if your first instinct is to shoot a certain side, you must trust it," he said.
The team, known as China Football Boy 2014, delivered a flawless campaign in Italy.
Behind the celebrations, however, lies a broader question about the development of Chinese soccer. Youth training has long faced challenges in consistently producing elite talent.
That landscape is now beginning to shift, as grassroots "wild route" initiatives expand alongside official efforts to support structured overseas development. While their approaches differ, both are contributing to a more diversified pathway for talent development.
