Chinese men's national football team arrived in Riyadh on Monday night to begin its final preparations for the upcoming match against Saudi Arabia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers scheduled for Thursday.

Arriving from Dubai, the Chinese team landed at the King Khalid International Airport, where they were welcomed by dozens of waiting fans.

Wei Shihao (front L), Baihelamu Abuduwaili (front R) arrive at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on March 17, 2025.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers match between China and Saudi Arabia will take place on March 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Luo Chen)

A representative of the Chinese Football Association told Xinhua that after two weeks of training in Dubai, the team is in good condition. The team began its training in Riyadh on Tuesday, aiming to be in top form for the Saudi Arabia match.

Japan currently leads Group C with 16 points, followed by Australia with seven points. Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and China are level on six points.