Former Thailand national team head coach Kiatisuk Senamuang, also known as “Zico Thai,” stated that Thai football must elevate its ambitions toward reaching the top 12 in Asia and qualifying for the World Cup, rather than remaining focused primarily on winning the soha.vn. Speaking on the Tuổi Trẻ program and the Clear the Sidelines
program, Kiatisuk expressed his view that regional dominance is a stage the country has already surpassed.
Kiatisuk Calls for Shift Beyond Regional Goals
According to soha.vn, capturing the regional title is still a welcome achievement because it brings joy and helps heal the emotions of fans, but the tournament should serve primarily as a stepping stone for larger objectives. He emphasized that the regional competitions function as environments to assemble squads in preparation for the Asian Cup and World Cup qualifiers. He urged the Football Association of Thailand to plan ahead for future World Cup cycles, noting that with the tournament expanded to 64 teams, opportunities may increase if proper long-term preparations begin immediately.
Squad Selection Struggles at ASEAN Cup 2026
Current head coach Anthony Hudson faces significant challenges with roster composition at the ASEAN Cup 2026 because the tournament falls outside of FIFA Days, leading to difficulties in securing player releases from domestic clubs. Thai clubs conducting pre-season training camps for the 2026/27 season have been reluctant to release key players who risk exhaustion or injury across seven to eight matches right before the domestic season begins.
The resulting Thai squad for the tournament lacks several high-profile names. Rising star Suphanat Mueanta is absent following his transfer to Japanese second-division club RB Omiya Ardija, while other prominent players including Ben Davis, Supachi Jaided, Chanathip Songkrasin, and Theeraton Bunmathan are also missing. Thai sports writer Wisarut Sinpongporn noted that Hudson initially drafted a preliminary list of approximately 50 players before finalizing a 25-player roster—one shy of the 26-player limit—after extensive and difficult negotiations with clubs. Hudson characterized this roster assembly as the most challenging of his career across four national teams.
Tournament Progress and Long-Term Development Proposals
Despite the roster limitations, the Thai national team advanced further in group play at the ASEAN Cup 2026 by defeating the Philippines 1-0 in their third Group B match on the road, raising their point total to nine after three matches and securing a strong position ahead of their final fixture. Hudson acknowledged that the team is not considered the primary favorite for the championship and will aim to advance as far as possible.
To secure future success, Kiatisuk advocated for structural changes beyond short-term campaigns, proposing:
- Establishing a synchronized national coaching and youth development system across U17, U19, and U20 levels rather than focusing solely on senior team results.
- Employing qualified, licensed coaches who are currently unattached to club teams within the youth training framework to prevent resource waste.
- Arranging periodic training camps for youth teams outside of official FIFA Days through close coordination with clubs, including players who are not yet regular starters at their club sides.
Wisarut Sinpongporn suggested that reaching the semi-finals of the current regional tournament satisfies expectations, allowing focus to shift toward the subsequent FIFA ASEAN Cup scheduled during the FIFA Days windows in September and October, when clubs are obligated to release their strongest players.
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