Over the past 12 months, Chinese football has collapsed at an alarming rate. At its peak, the Chinese Super League was turning heads in the football world, with astronomical salaries on offer as it competed with the world's most established clubs for some of the world's best talent.

Alongside the league, bet on the China FA Cup — the domestic knockout cup competition won on the last two occasions by Shandong Taishan, who landed the cup + league double in 2021.

Betting on the return of football in China despite the uncertain future

The news that defending Chinese Super League champion Jiangsu FC have ceased operations set the tone for a depressing year for football in the world's most populated country.

The spending spree on famous foreign stars that began in 2011 and peaked at more than $400 million in the winter of 2016-17 when Chinese Super League clubs collectively spent more than any other in the world has well and truly ended.

Instead of playing South American and European internationals, clubs are left with debt and an uncertain future.

Betting on the Chinese national team

The decision to suspend the league season from August to December 2021 to help the national team in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup has pushed the league even further backwards.

It has also been ineffective as China is on the verge of missing out on qualification for the World Cup after its last and only appearance in the 2002 World Cup co-hosted with South Korea. Make bets on the Asian Zone World Cup qualifiers with Bwin.

Bet on Super League

From mid-season onwards, the best teams will compete for the title in the so-called Championship group. This group will define the overall winner of the competition and the places for the Asian Champions League. China has won on four occasions. However, several Chinese teams no longer have the AFC license to play the competition (all AFC Champions League bets).

Guangzhou FC, historically the best team in China with eight CSL titles to their credit, had to bring a team made up of young, inexperienced players to the Asian Champions League this year. They finished last in their group, losing all six games and scoring only once.