China World Cup fans cheer for referee Ma Ning

For soccer fans like Miko Zhang, China’s failure to qualify for this year’s FIFA World Cup is almost beside the point.

BEIJING — For soccer fans like Miko Zhang, China’s failure to qualify for this year’s World Cup is almost beside the point.

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Early on Wednesday, as Argentina sealed a 3-0 victory over Algeria, hundreds of fans gathered on the courtyard lawn of Beijing’s Argentine Embassy to cheer the team on. Some wore the country’s blue-and-white jerseys while lounging on soccer-ball-shaped beanbags, while others relished in an early barbecue lunch featuring Argentine beef.

“I’m used to it! Maybe in 10 years. For now, we have Messi,” Zhang, 34, told NBC News when asked about China’s absence from the tournament.