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Karen Chiu

This article originally appeared on ABACUS
China didn’t qualify for this year’s World Cup, but that didn’t spoil the fun for Chinese football fans.
The opening tournament saw hosts Russia thrashing Saudi Arabia 5-0, providing plenty of fodder for memes and jokes on China’s microblog Weibo.
People jumped on the hilarious interaction between Russian president Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, caught on camera.


One Weibo user imagined what was going on inside the head of Prince Salman: “You just wait. Once I get home I’ll slash oil prices in half." (The Russian economy is, of course, heavily dependant on oil exports.)
Another commenter, referring to the Russian leader’s sympathetic handshakes with Prince Salman, wrote, “[The prince] can apply for a Guinness World Record for most handshakes with Putin in 90 minutes.”
This picture of two men, said to be stunned Saudi fans, was also trending:

One Weibo user, who’s probably a Marvel fan, suggested this caption, “I've collected all 10 Infinity Stones, so I can make you vanish any minute.”
Others wondered how expensive those gems are. One person joked, “The betting results cost him all his rings.”
Another believed they were secret weapons: “They were using the reflection from those rings to blind the Russian players.”
Meet Vivo, the FIFA World Cup sponsor you’ve never heard of
China might not be playing in the tournament this time, but its presence is still keenly felt. Stadiums are filled with billboards from Chinese sponsors such as phone maker Vivo and electronics manufacturer Hisense.
Since 2016, China has been pouring major cash into cultivating football talent. By 2050, it hopes to become a global powerhouse capable of challenging the world’s top teams -- a goal that seems pretty distant for now.
China has only qualified for the World Cup once, in 2002. They exited the tournament in the first round, failing to score a single goal and losing all three matches -- including 2-0 to Costa Rica, a country with a population smaller than many Chinese cities.
One Weibo user breathed a sigh of relief, writing, “Thankfully China didn’t qualify, or else it would be the Chinese team being crushed.”

For more insights into China tech, sign up for our tech newsletters, subscribe to our Inside China Tech podcast, and download the comprehensive 2019 China Internet Report. Also roam China Tech City, an award-winning interactive digital map at our sister site Abacus.



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Weibo

China’s internet lights up as Russia crush Saudi Arabia in World Cup opener

Translated caption: “Aw~ we scored again.” (Picture: Weibo/Sina Sports)


Translated caption: “They had to score so many goals -- what can I do?” (Picture: Weibo/Sina Sports)


China’s internet lights up as Russia crush Saudi Arabia in World Cup opener

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Memes featuring Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince make the rounds on Weibo

Memes featuring Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince make the rounds on Weibo