| "> | | | | Indonesia 4-2 in the semi-finals. Subsequently, Chinese |
| Introduction | | | | Taipei defeated South Korea 5-2, to earn first place in |
| The Island is the second-worst soccer team in the | | | | the Asian Games. Curiously SK went to Manila as |
| world today. The national squad, once a powerful | | | | favorites to win the gold medal. |
| team on the continent of Asia, has never qualified for | | | | Four years later, the national squad earned the regional |
| the FIFA World Cup. Throughout the 1950s, Taiwan | | | | title, at the expense South Korea (silver medal) and |
| called special attention when the men's soccer team | | | | Indonesia (bronze medal). At the 1958 Tokyo Games, |
| earned twice the Asian title. However, it was the last | | | | the men's soccer team -that was perhaps the best |
| time Taiwan was seen in the podium. | | | | Taiwan team- became the first squad to successfully |
| Country Profile: Taiwan | | | | defend a men's Asian title. Group A was dominated |
| Taiwan -also known as Chinese Taipei- covers a land | | | | by Taiwan. On May 24, 1958, Chinese Taipei routed |
| area of 13,900 square miles. More than 23 million | | | | Malaysia 2-1. Two days later, they beat Pakistan 3-1. In |
| people live in the Island. The capital and largest city of | | | | the next round, the national squad defeated Israel (2-0) |
| the Island is Taipei. Politically, Taiwan is a democratic | | | | and then routed Indonesia (1-0). In the 1958 men's final, |
| state since 2000. The United Nations does not | | | | Chinese Taipei beat South Korea 3-2. By 1956, Korea |
| recognize Taiwan. The country is only recognized by | | | | had won the Asian Cup. For political reasons, however, |
| 23 countries in the world: Belize (Central | | | | the Island could not defend its Asian title in the Games |
| America),Burkina Faso (Africa), Dominican Republic | | | | in Jakarta, Indonesia, in the early 1960s. |
| (Caribbean), El Salvador (Central America), Gambia | | | | But the so-called "golden age" of Taiwanese football |
| (West Africa), Guatemala (Central America), Haiti | | | | ended in the 1960s. Between October 14 and October |
| (Caribbean), Holy See (Europe), Honduras (Central | | | | 23, 1960, the Island placed third at the Asian Cup, |
| America), Kiribati (South Pacific), Marshall Islands | | | | behind South Korea (winner) and Israel (runner-up). |
| (Oceania), Nauru (South Pacific), Nicaragua (Central | | | | During that event, they defeated the Philippines (7-4), |
| America), Palau (Oceania), Panama (Central America), | | | | Hong Kong (7-4) and South Vietnam (2-0). By the late |
| Paraguay (South America), Saint Kitts & Nevis | | | | 1960s, Chinese Taipei finished fourth in the Asian Cup |
| (Caribbean), Saint Lucia (Caribbean), Saint Vincent and | | | | in Iran. In the first round, it defeated the Philippines (9-0), |
| the Grenadines (Caribbean), Sao Tome and Principe | | | | Indonesia (3-2), and South Korea (1-0) and tied with |
| (Africa), Solomon Islands (South Pacific), Swaziland | | | | Japan (2-2). The country advance but was quickly put |
| (Southern Africa), and Tuvalu (South Pacific). | | | | out by Iran (0-4), and Israel (1-4) in the semi-finals. |
| Economically, it is one of Asia's most industrialized | | | | Over the next decades, the results were quite poor. |
| countries, together with Singapore, South Korea, | | | | Unlike Japan, South Korea, China and Korea DPR, |
| Malaysia and Japan. | | | | Taiwan -where there are more than 500 soccer |
| Rise and Fall of the Taiwanese Soccer | | | | stadiums-- has not qualified for the FIFA World Cup. |
| In its first appearance at an important international | | | | By 2006, the national team lost to Kuwait 10-0. In 2010 |
| event, the national team won the gold medal in the | | | | Chinese Taipei, a member of the FIFA since the 1950s, |
| Asian Games in Manila, the capital city of the | | | | is ranked 162nd on the Planet, behind Sierra Leone |
| Philippines, in 1954. Chinese Taipei arrived as the | | | | (one of the world's poorest nations), Nicaragua ( a |
| unknown to experts of the Asian Games. However, | | | | baseball-loving nation), Maldives (one of the world's |
| they were the big surprise. At the onset, the | | | | smallest countries), the Democratic Republic of the |
| tournament was dominated by Taiwan. In the first | | | | Congo (a war-torn country in Africa), and Iraq (a |
| round, they picked up two wins. It defeated South | | | | republic in crisis for decades). |
| Vietnam (3-2) and the Philippines (4-0). Then, it beat | | | | |