Chinese billionaire Guo Guangchang had pledged a substantial incentive of $11.6 million to the China U23 national football team if they could secure a victory against Vietnam in the semi-finals of the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026. The China U23 team delivered on this challenge, successfully defeating Vietnam with a decisive 3-0 scoreline and subsequently advancing to face Japan in the final of the 2026 Asian Youth Championship, which is scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia.
According to reports from prominent Chinese media outlets Sina and 163, billionaire Guo Guangchang made this significant financial promise to the Chinese U23 squad prior to their crucial semi-final encounter against Vietnam. The match took place on the evening of January 20 at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium.
Guo Guangchang, aged 58, is widely recognized as the CEO and founder of Fosun International, a major Chinese multinational conglomerate. His extensive business interests span diverse sectors, including pharmaceuticals, insurance, tourism, and mining. Forbes estimates his personal net worth to be approximately $2.3 billion as of 2026.
Beyond his core business ventures, Guo Guangchang also holds ownership stakes in several sports clubs in the United Kingdom, most notably the English Premier League football club Wolverhampton Wanderers. As the owner of such a prominent club, his personal pledge of an $11.6 million special bonus was specifically conditional on the China U23 team overcoming Vietnam in their semi-final match.
This considerable financial incentive from Guo Guangchang was undoubtedly a significant motivating factor for the Chinese team, who went on to secure a convincing 3-0 victory over Vietnam. During the semi-final, China displayed a dominant performance, characterized by superior ball control and relentless pressure on the Vietnamese defense, which ultimately proved highly effective in achieving their goal.
This triumph against Vietnam marks China’s return to the tournament final for the first time in 21 years. Their last appearance in a major youth Asian final was in 2004, at the AFC U19 Asian Cup, where they ultimately lost to South Korea. Moreover, this recent victory established China as only the second team in the history of the U23 Asian Championships to maintain a clean sheet for five consecutive matches, a remarkable feat previously achieved by the Uzbek team in 2024.
Looking ahead, the China U23 team is now set to clash with Japan in the highly anticipated final. Meanwhile, Vietnam will compete against South Korea for third place, following Japan’s 1-0 victory over South Korea in their respective semi-final match.
