President Xi Jinping wants China to win football's World Cup by the year 2050.

The government has said it wants 50 million people playing the game by the middle of this decade.

Our panel of three, including a top international commentator on the Chinese scene, will discuss the reality behind these grand ambitions.

Who are China's fans and teams? Can China's mix of top-down planning and big business bring footballing success? What do top footballing nations have that China doesn't?

• Saturday 7th November, open 6pm for 6.30pm start
• Venue: The Park Tavern, 840 Hengshan Lu near Tianping Lu; M: Xujiahui
• FCC members 40RMB / non-members 120 RMB; includes 2 drinks

Click here to become an FCC member​

The Panel:

Cameron Wilson

A leading writer on Chinese football, he is frequently quoted by world media. He's been following the scene since 2000 and founded the blog Wild East Football.

Peter Stebbings

The only foreign correspondent in China dedicated to sports. He works for Agence France Presse, and has been in Shanghai more than 3 years after stints in Hong Kong, the U.S, Paris and London.

Karen Dong

A volunteer for Hangzhou Tottenham Hotspur Supporters group. She closely follows the English Premier League and La Liga in Spain, and can talk about what drives football fandom in China.