A top Chinese football official has urged FIFA to realize the "dream" of China’s fans by bringing the World Cup to the Asian nation in '30 -- "or even sooner," according to the AFP. Chinese FA VP Zhang Jian said that FIFA’s rotation policy "probably ruled out a return to Asia" in '26, after Qatar hosts the World Cup in '22. Zhang said that "it’s not very easy" for China to hold the World Cup in '26. But he said the final decision "was up to world body FIFA." Zhang: "Every Chinese football fan has a dream -- to host a World Cup in China." With Chinese President Xi Jinping "eager to host and even win football’s biggest tournament," conjecture is centering on when rather than if the World Cup will go to China. Hosting the World Cup "looks far more realistic" than winning the competition, as China’s sole appearance in '02 ended "without a single point or even a goal." Zhang "could be in line for a powerful voice in FIFA as he is standing for a seat on the body's new council, which has replaced the scandal-prone executive committee" (AFP, 9/28).