BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced Friday that it has opened applications for the men's national team head coach, setting a clear target of qualifying for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

The application period runs from September 5 to 20. Candidates must meet seven requirements, including having prior experience as head coach in major international tournaments or top professional leagues in Europe or Asia, and being under 60 years old in principle. Nationality is not restricted.

According to the CFA, the new coach will be expected to "raise the team's level and FIFA ranking, and achieve the goal of reaching the 2030 World Cup," while adopting a proactive philosophy to build a disciplined and competitive squad.

China has already been ruled out of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. This led to the dismissal of former head coach Branko Ivankovic in June, with Dejan Djurdjevic serving as the caretaker manager who led China's campaign at the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Football Championship held in South Korea in July.

The new coach's first major assignment will be the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia. ■