Ma Xiaoxu wants China PR to combine competitive aims with long-term player development at the 2026 U17 Women's World Cup in Morocco. In an interview published by FIFA on 14 October, she describes a month-long domestic camp focused on physical and tactical preparation.
Competition supports development
China face Kenya, Samoa and the USA in their group and hope to improve on the previous edition's round-of-16 appearance. Ma nevertheless places long-term development first in the work with U17 players.
She identifies technical skills, mental strength, tactical awareness and understanding of the game as connected priorities. Positive results can strengthen confidence, so competitive ambition and development need not conflict.
China won four consecutive matches without conceding during their Asian campaign to secure qualification, before a 4-2 semi-final defeat by Korea DPR. Those results provide preparation experience rather than achievements at the forthcoming global finals.
Playing experience informs her coaching
FIFA records 150 senior international appearances and 61 goals for Ma. Her career included China's 2007 World Cup quarter-final run, time alongside Marta at Umeå and individual Asian awards.
She also won the Golden Ball and Golden Shoe at the 2006 U20 Women's World Championship. Ma regards those experiences as resources for helping younger players face high-level opposition.
She sees the continuing presence of China's youth teams at global competitions as encouraging, but that remains an assessment of progress and potential. The Morocco tournament is still ahead.
Confidence and the completed camp do not establish group-stage advancement or a finishing position. They describe the foundations from which China will approach their next challenge.