China has included Brazil-born midfielder Serginho in its squad for crucial World Cup qualifiers, just days after he obtained Chinese citizenship. The move is part of China’s ongoing strategy to bolster its national team by naturalizing foreign-born players, though the approach has yielded limited success so far.
Serginho, known in China as Sai Erjiniao, received his citizenship on March 12 and made his debut for the national team in a closed-door friendly against Kuwait on Sunday, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The 30-year-old, whose birth name is Sergio Oliveira, has been playing in China since 2020, initially with Changchun Yatai before joining Beijing Guoan earlier this year.
Also named in the 27-man squad is Liverpool-born defender Tyias Browning, now called Jiang Guangtai, who previously represented England at the youth level. The squad, selected by Croatian head coach Branko Ivankovic, also includes teenage prospects Wang Yudong and Liu Chengyu.
China faces a challenging path in its World Cup qualifying campaign. The team is currently bottom of its group with six points but trails Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain only on goal difference. Australia sits one point ahead, while Japan leads the group with 16 points. The top two teams will qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup in North America, while the third and fourth-placed teams will enter another qualifying round.
China’s upcoming matches include an away game against Saudi Arabia on Thursday and a home fixture against Australia next Tuesday. These games are critical for China’s hopes of advancing in the qualifiers.
Serginho began his senior career at Brazilian club Santos before moving to Japan’s Kashima Antlers in 2018. Since joining the Chinese Super League, he has scored 30 goals in 100 appearances, earning a reputation as a dynamic midfielder.
Notably absent from the squad are other Brazil-born players who have previously represented China, including Elkeson, Alan, and Fernandinho.
China, currently ranked 90th in the world, has only qualified for the World Cup once, in 2002, when they failed to secure a point or score a goal. The inclusion of naturalized players like Serginho and Jiang Guangtai reflects China’s efforts to improve its footballing fortunes, but the team’s performance in the upcoming qualifiers will be the true test of this strategy.
