Nation sets 2050 goal for soccer turnaround

With China still struggling to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the country has set a goal of becoming a world-leading soccer power by 2050 through youth promotion and league development.

A long-term development outline was announced on Monday aimed at China becoming a dominant soccer power in Asia by 2030 and a leading world competitor two decades later.

This follows an ambitious soccer reform plan inspired by President Xi Jinping in March last year. Xi wants to see China qualify for the World Cup finals again and eventually host and win the prestigious tournament. China qualified for the finals for the first time in 2002.