For millions of Chinese football fans, the 2026 FIFA World Cup comes with a familiar disappointment: China’s national team is once again absent from football’s biggest stage. Yet despite having no team in the tournament, fans across the country have found an unlikely figure to rally behind — veteran referee Ma Ning.
The 46-year-old official has emerged as China’s most visible representative at the World Cup, turning from a respected referee into a social media sensation. Ma is the only Chinese match referee selected for the tournament and is making his second World Cup appearance after serving as a fourth official at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He is accompanied by assistant referee Zhou Fei and VAR official Fu Ming.
China’s men's national team has not qualified for a World Cup since its lone appearance in 2002, leaving supporters with little direct involvement in the competition. As a result, many fans have embraced Ma as their representative on the global stage. Posts related to his World Cup journey have attracted millions of views on Chinese social media platforms, while his follower count has surged in recent weeks.
Known among fans as the “Card Master,” Ma earned his nickname after issuing nine yellow cards and three red cards during a heated Chinese Super League derby in 2015. His strict approach to officiating has made him both admired and controversial over the years, but it has also helped build a distinctive public image that resonates with supporters.
The referee's newfound popularity has also attracted commercial interest. Several major Chinese brands, including technology and consumer goods companies, have partnered with Ma in marketing campaigns linked to the World Cup. Advertisers see his role as a symbol of Chinese participation in a tournament where the country lacks a competing team.
Social media users have responded with humor and pride. Many have joked that Ma carries China's hopes at the tournament, while others have celebrated the fact that at least one Chinese representative will be present on the field. Some fans have even suggested that every card he shows during matches will feel like a small contribution from China to the World Cup spectacle.
While China’s football ambitions remain unfulfilled, Ma Ning’s presence offers supporters a rare connection to the world’s biggest sporting event. For a football-loving nation still waiting for its team to return to the World Cup, a referee has unexpectedly become the face of national pride.
