China plans to sack coach ahead of crucial match against Indonesia

According to Sohu reports, China national team is preparing to change its coach ahead of a crucial match against Indonesia in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.

Branko Ivankovic — the 71-year-old Croatian coach — faces dismissal after a disappointing performance with China national team.

The veteran coach’s statistics show concerning results — only securing three victories, two draws, and seven defeats in 12 matches since last year.

In the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, China national team sits at the bottom of Group C with six points — trailing Indonesia by three points and behind Bahrain on goal difference after eight matches.

With World Cup qualification hopes hanging by a thread, the Chinese Football Association is expected to make an urgent decision to revive the team’s chances. The upcoming match against Indonesia is a must-win, as failure to secure three points could see China national team fall further behind in the race for a spot in the next round.