Preview: China faces Saudi Arabia in crucial World Cup qualifier

RIYADH, March 20 (Xinhua) -- In a high-stakes battle for FIFA World Cup qualification, China takes on Saudi Arabia in a crucial AFC third-round Group C matchup on Thursday.

Japan leads the group with 16 points and is nearly assured of direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup. However, the rest of the group remains tightly contested, with Australia sitting second with seven points, while China, Saudi Arabia, B