China isn’t at the World Cup, so soccer-loving fans are cheering for a ref instead

World CupChina failed to qualify for the World Cup, so soccer-loving fans are cheering for a referee insteadChina has not qualified for the men’s World Cup since 2002. But Ma Ning, nicknamed “Card Master,” will ensure there is still a Chinese presence on the field at the tournament.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleInternational fans embrace U.S. culture during World Cup03:55Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 18, 2026, 6:01 AM EDTBy Janis Mackey Frayer, Erin Tan, Dawn Liu and Mithil AggarwalBEIJING — For soccer fans like Miko Zhang, China’s failure to qualify for this year’s World Cup is almost beside the point.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Early on Wednesday, as Argentina sealed a 3-0 victory over Algeria, hundreds of fans gathered on the courtyard lawn of Beijing’s Argentine Embassy to cheer the team on. Some wore the country’s blue-and-white jerseys while lounging on soccer-ball-shaped beanbags, while others relished in an early barbecue lunch featuring Argentine beef.“I’m used to it! Maybe in 10 years. For now, we have Messi,” Zhang, 34, told NBC News when asked about China’s absence from the tournament.Add NBC News to GoogleNBA star Steph Curry signs apparel deal with Chinese company Li-Ning04:17China has not qualified for the men’s World Cup since 2002, but soccer remains deeply popular in the country, where more than 44 million watched South Korea’s opening game against Czechia last week, according to data from state broadcaster CCTV.Fans here have found other ways of being part of the tournament, including rallying behind Chinese referee Ma Ning, as well as snapping up plushies and jerseys and cheering for their favorite teams.Chen Bo, a 49-year-old manager in Shanghai, said it’s the “sheer charm of football as a sport” that it has such a hold on China.“The game itself is just so captivating that even when you aren’t cheering for your...