China unveils 26-man squad for FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Al Kesen (R) and Li Ke (L) celebrate after the group A match between China and Guam at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 in Guangzhou on Oct. 10, 2019. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Li Ke is surprisingly not included in the 26-man squad for China's 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in March, while another naturalized player Ai Kesen and Espanyol striker Wu Lei are both in.

BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has announced a 26-man squad here on Monday to prepare for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in March.

Five players, including Brazilian-born, naturalized striker Ai Kesen from Chinese Super League powerhouse Guangzhou Evergrande, have been called up to the national team, while another British-born naturalized midfielder Li Ke from Beijing Gouan has been surprisingly not included in the roster.

RCD Espanyol's Wu Lei (L) scores a goal against Celta de Vigo's goalkeeper Ruben Blanco during a Spanish league match between RCD Espanyol and Celta de Vigo in Barcelona, Spain on April 24, 2019. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)

Star forward Wu Lei, who plays for La Liga's Espanyol, is the only listed player in the national squad from one of the top five major European football leagues.

Head coach Li Tie, who was appointed to succeed Italian Marcello Lippi in January, will coach his first two World Cup qualifiers against the Maldives and Guam behind closed doors in Buriram, Thailand amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Head coach of the Chinese men's football team Li Tie (C) instructs players during a training session in Foshan, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)

Li and his players will assemble on March 3 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In order to ensure the team will not be affected by the epidemic, all the players and staff who are currently in China will accept medical examination in Beijing before departure for Dubai.

The following is the 26-man roster:

Goalkeepers: Yan Junling (Shanghai SIPG), Dong Chunyu(Wuhan Zall), Liu Dianzuo (Guangzhou Evergrande);

Defenders: Zhang Linpeng (Guangzhou Evergrande), Gao Zhunyi(Guangzhou Evergrande), Yu Dabao (Beijing Guoan), Li Lei (Beijing Guoan), Li Ang (Jiangsu Suning), Ming Tian(Wuhan Zall), Jiang Zhipeng (Hebei China Fortune), Tang Miao (Guangzhou RF);

Midfielders: Xu Xin (Guangzhou Evergrande), Li Xing (Wuhan Zall), Liu Yun(Wuhan Zall), Wu Xi (Jiangsu Suning), Chi Zhongguo (Beijing Guoan), Liu Binbin (Shandong Luneng), Zhang Xizhe (Beijing Guoan), Liu Binbin (Shandong Luneng), Jin Jingdao (Shandong Luneng), Feng Jing (Chongqing Lifan);

Forwards: Ai Kesen (Guangzhou Evergrande), Dong Xuesheng (Hebei China Fortune), Tan Long (Changchun Yatai), Yang Xu (Tianjin Tianhai), Wu Lei (Espanyol).