Sports authorities are hoping an action plan will help the country become a major player in the world's most-popular game. Cui Jia reports from Shangatushi, the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

The time difference between China and France meant Aburaj Memet, a primary school student from Yiksak village in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, had to get up at 3 am on July 11 to watch the final of Euro 2016 live on TV.

The 10-year-old committed to memory the moment his idol, star striker Cristiano Ronaldo, lifted the trophy above his head after Portugal won the championship. The young striker is determined to do the same thing if he can win a tournament for Yiksak village primary school soccer team, which was founded 131 years ago. Maybe he'll even do it for Team China someday.