TheChinese Taipei Football Association (CTFA) was originally established inmainland China in 1924 as the China Football Association (CFA). Following the conclusion of theChinese Civil War in 1949, the association relocated to Taiwan along with the Republic of China government. Taiwan joinedFIFA in 1954,[5] and competed internationally under the name "Republic of China".[6] However, in FIFA's statistical records, the team was also referred to as "Taiwan" before officially adopting the name "Chinese Taipei" in 1982, following international agreements prompted by political tensions with the People's Republic of China (PRC).[5]
The national team achieved its greatest success during this early period. It qualified for the1960 AFC Asian Cup and finished third, its best performance in the tournament to date. In the same year, the team also participated in the football tournament at the1960 Summer Olympics. Notably, several players in the squad were originally fromHong Kong, despite Hong Kong having its ownnational team at the time.[7]
In 1970, an agreement between the CTFA and theHong Kong Football Association ended the eligibility of Hong Kong-based players to represent Taiwan. The national team's performance declined significantly thereafter, and it has not qualified for the AFC Asian Cup or the FIFA World Cup since.
Participation in Oceania Football Confederation (1975–1989)
Due to political conflicts with the PRC, Chinese Taipei was expelled from theAsian Football Confederation (AFC)[8] and theAsian Games. As a result, from 1975 to 1989, Chinese Taipei competed as a member of theOceania Football Confederation (OFC). During this period, the team struggled to achieve significant results on the international stage.
Return to AFC and modern developments (1989–present)
Chinese Taipei was re-admitted to the AFC in 1989[9] and to theOlympic Council of Asia in 1990.[10] The national team gradually began rebuilding its international presence but remained a minor footballing nation in Asia.[citation needed]
In recent years, Chinese Taipei experienced a resurgence in form under English coachGary White, who was appointed in 2017.[11] White implemented modern tactical approaches and launched a global scouting program to identify players of Taiwanese descent abroad. This initiative brought in players such asTim Chow,Will Donkin, andEmilio Estevez, who contributed to improved performances.[citation needed]
In December 2017, Chinese Taipei hosted and won theCTFA International Tournament, featuringLaos, thePhilippines, andTimor-Leste. It marked the national team's first official international trophy in 55 years.[12] ForwardLi Mao finished as the tournament's top scorer with four goals.[13]
Under White's leadership, Chinese Taipei won seven consecutive FIFA-recognized matches and advanced to thethird round of qualification for the2019 AFC Asian Cup, narrowly missing qualification by one point behindBahrain andTurkmenistan. White departed in September 2018 to manage the Hong Kong national team.[14]
After White's departure, the team's performance declined. Interim coachVom Ca-nhum led the squad in theEAFF E-1 Championship qualifying round, but failed to progress further.[citation needed] In 2019,Louis Lancaster, another English coach and former assistant to White, was appointed head coach.[15] However, the team won only one of nine matches that year and suffered heavy defeats during the early stages ofqualification for the2022 FIFA World Cup.[citation needed] Lancaster was dismissed in December 2019,[16] and replaced by Vom Ca-nhum, who held anAFC Pro A license and was appointed on a permanent basis.[17]
Chinese Taipei played their home matches at theKaohsiung National Stadium which is able to hold up to 55,000 seating capacity. The stadium, designed by Japanese architectToyo Ito, makes use of 1 MW ofsolar cells to provide most of its power needs. The stadium's semi spiral-shaped, like a dragon, is the first stadium in the world to provide power usingsolar power technology. Thesolar panels covering the vast external face of the stadium are able to generate most of the power required for its own operation, as well as additional power that can be sent to the grid.
Chinese Taipei used to play their match at the 20,000 capacity stadiumTaipei Municipal Stadium which as of now, will be second in line to host the national team matches. On 3 July 2011, the stadium recorded its highest attendance for a football game when Chinese Taipei hosted Malaysia in the first round of the2014 FIFA World Cup qualification second leg match, when 15,335 spectators attended the game.
Chen Kuei-jen is a former manager of the Chinese Taipei national football teamLouis Lancaster became the manager of the Chinese Taipei national football team in 2019
1 Associate member of OFC - Not a member of FIFA 2 Not a member of OFC and consequently not a member of FIFA 3 Northern Mariana Islands was only an associate member of OFC between 1998 and 2009 - Not a member of FIFA 4 Although not geographically in Oceania, Chinese Taipei was a member of the OFC between 1976–1978 and 1982–1989 Although not geographically in OceaniaIsrael entered OFC World Cup qualification in1986 and1990 due to political reasons, though it never became a formal OFC member.