Team China take photos with supporters after the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup final match between China and Japan in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on January 24, 2026 local time. Photo: VCG

　　Despite a 4-0 defeat to Japan in the U23 Asian Cup final on Saturday, the Chinese men"s national under-23 football team received overwhelming applause for their performance after achieving the runners-up finish, China"s best-ever result in the tournament.

　　China"s top sport authority, the General Administration of Sport of China (GASC), and football governing body, the Chinese Football Association (CFA), both issued congratulatory letters to the team"s breakthrough, noting their achievement was a "best-ever result in the tournament" and "reignited hope for the revitalization of Chinese football."

　　The team"s "outstanding performance has boosted the morale and vitality of Chinese football, serving as a strong impetus to reinforce confidence and determination in the revitalization of the sport," the GASC letter reads.

　　It has galvanized collective efforts and injected spiritual momentum into the promotion of the "three major ball sports" and the building of a leading sports nation, the GASC said in the letter.

　　The official recognition came on the back of a campaign that far exceeded expectations. The Chinese under-23 team, which was seeded at the bottom level in the group stage, did not concede a goal en route to the final.

　　The final marks the first time in 22 years that a Chinese men"s national team at any level has reached the final of a major continental tournament.

　　The CFA highlighted the team"s journey under head coach Antonio Puche, noting that the players had translated the spirit of being "battle-ready and disciplined" into concrete results on the pitch.