On June 23, 2026, at 2:00 PM, at the meeting room of the FA Thailand building, the Football Association of Thailand held a meeting to discuss the Thai national team's strategy for the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026, which will be held in July-August, as well as the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 in September-October.
The meeting was led by Ekaphon Phonnavie, Secretary-General of the Association, along with Anthony Hudson, head coach of the Thai national team, and his coaching staff.
Following the meeting, Hudson said, "During the meeting we discussed planning for the ASEAN Cup tournament, which, admittedly, is a rather complex period in terms of player selection because this tournament is not a FIFA Day and many players have to serve their clubs in pre-season training. Of course, we will try to select the fittest players who have been given permission by their clubs to compete in this tournament."
"Currently, our initial plan is to call the athletes in for their first training camp on July 14th. During this period until then, we will be in discussions with the clubs to request players, ensuring maximum readiness. Our approach for this squad is to primarily select promising young players, with some experienced players to provide guidance in certain positions. We aim to create a balanced team, and our main goal is to give opportunities to young athletes."
"For this tournament, we're focusing on one game at a time, communicating with each other, and having a shared goal of going as far as possible. We won't put pressure on the athletes and will encourage them to perform at their best. Of course, many nations are selecting their best teams and training abroad, but we're trying to focus on ourselves and prepare as thoroughly as possible."
"Regarding the earlier period, I have to admit that we may not have performed well. This was due to several factors, including the fact that many key players weren't called up, and several athletes weren't in a period where they had sufficient match fitness. This is different from when athletes have been consistently competing during the mid-season. I've learned many things and worked with many different athletes."
"Finally, I want to ask the fans for their support. I know the fans want our team to perform well and be successful. I, the entire staff, and the players all want to make the fans proud. Most importantly, I want the fans to support the players, especially the younger ones. I believe this is what the athletes need most."
The Thai national team will begin its training camp for the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026 on July 14, 2026. Thailand is in Group B along with Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Laos. The team's group stage schedule is as follows:
Matchday1
July 25, 2026
Laos meets Thailand
8:00 PM
Lao National Stadium No. 16, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic
Matchday2
August 1, 2026
Thailand vs. Malaysia
8:00 PM
Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
Matchday3
August 4, 2026
Philippines vs. Thailand
8:00 PM Thailand time.
New Clark City Athletic Stadium, Tarlac, Philippines
Matchday4
August 8, 2026
Thailand vs. Myanmar
8:00 PM
Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
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For the 2026 ASEAN Football Championship group stage, the group winners and runners-up will advance to the semi-finals, and then compete in a home-and-away knockout round to determine the champion.