Chinese soccer fans have adopted veteran referee Ma Ning as their primary representative for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the national team failed to qualify.
The 46-year-old official has gained viral fame and secured major corporate sponsorships from Chinese tech and consumer brands, including Lenovo, Hisense, and Mengniu, as reported by the BBC and Channel News Asia.
From 'Card Master' to World Cup Official
Known for his strict officiating, Ma earned the nickname "card master" after issuing nine yellow cards and three red cards during a tense Shanghai derby match in 2015.
While his roles at the previous tournament in Qatar were limited to fourth official duties, this tournament marks his second World Cup appearance alongside assistant referee Zhou Fei and video assistant referee Fu Ming.
The referee recently launched an account on the social media platform RedNote to document his journey, quickly accumulating nearly 200,000 followers while related hashtags on Weibo generated over 3.6 million views.
"We have Ma Ning, who do you have?" wrote one RedNote user, highlighting the fan engagement surrounding his appointment.
Ma shared a video clip of his physical preparation and travel packing on the platform, which prominently featured sponsored products like a Lenovo tablet.
"Other countries get to watch their own teams play, while we'll watch our referee issue cards," another user declared on social media.
Ma expressed readiness for his upcoming matches in Canada, Mexico, and the United States through his social media channel.
"I take up this appointment with confidence and composure.
World Cup, here we come," stated Ma, who has been a FIFA-certified official since 2011 and lectures at the Nanjing Sport Institute.
China has not qualified for a World Cup since its solitary appearance in 2002, and the domestic sport has faced a funding crisis alongside corruption scandals over the last two decades.
While the national team remains absent, Chinese technology companies are maintaining a heavy presence at the tournament, according to Semafor.
Hisense is serving as the official display partner for the video assistant referee systems, while Lenovo is deploying servers in Texas to support broadcasts and power artificial intelligence features.
Ma and his fellow Chinese officiating team members are currently completing preparation plans at a 10-day FIFA officials' camp in Miami.
