President Xi laments state of Chinese soccer on Mexico trip

Soccer fan Xi Jinping used his speech to Mexico's congress to once again lament the state of the sport in China.

Soccer is the country's most watched sport but its team languishes way down the global rankings at No95.

"I am a football fan," Xi said. "The Chinese soccer team has always been doing their best, but has had only one chance to enter the World Cup competition.

"The coach who led the Chinese team to achieve this record was the one who has also coached the Mexican national soccer team, Bora Milutinovic."

Xi has enjoyed soccer since he was young. He made three wishes two years ago - for China to qualify for another World Cup, to host a World Cup and to win a World Cup.

He has promised to revive Chinese soccer and clean up the game in the aftermath of a spate of corruption scandals that have shaken public faith in the domestic league.