BEIJING, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Brazil-born naturalized player Sai Erjiniao will play for the Chinese national team in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, according to a 27-man roster revealed on Sunday.

Beijing Guoan midfielder Sai, whose Portuguese name is Sergio Oliveira, obtained Chinese nationality earlier this March. The 30-year-old has now been called up by China's head coach Branko Ivankovic for the first time.

Wu Lei, the 2024 Chinese Men's Footballer of the Year, and starting center-back Zhu Chenjie were not included due to injuries, while two young forwards, Wang Yudong and Liu Chengyu, born in 2006, are expected to make their international debuts.

China is set to play against Saudi Arabia away on March 20 and then face Australia at home in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, on March 25.

With four rounds remaining, the Chinese team currently has six points, tied with Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Bahrain, and is just one point behind second-placed Australia. Japan leads the group with 16 points.

The 27-man roster is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Yan Junling, Liu Dianzuo, Wang Dalei;

Defenders: Jiang Guangtai, Wei Zhen, Wang Zhenao, Yang Zexiang, Jiang Shenglong, Han Pengfei, Hu Hetao, Li Lei, Gao Zhunyi;

Midfielders: Xu Haoyang, Wang Haijian, Cao Yongjing, Sai Erjiniao, Li Yuanyi, Xie Wenneng, Cheng Jin, Wang Shangyuan;

Forwards: Liu Chengyu, Wei Shihao, Wang Ziming, Zhang Yuning, Lin Liangming, Wang Yudong, Behram Abduweli. Enditem

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