"Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul" reveals the readiness and goals of the Thailand national team ahead of the Asian Games 2026.
On 15 Sep 2026, "Coach Wang" Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul disclosed the readiness and objectives of the "War Elephants," Thailand's national team, before the men's football tournament at the 20th Asian Games 2026, held from 15 September to 3 October 2026. The Thai men's football team is placed in Group A with Japan (host), Kyrgyzstan, and Hong Kong, competing in a round-robin format to determine the group winner and runner-up who will advance to the knockout stage.
Head coach “Coach Wang” Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul said, "First, I want to thank the hosts for their warm welcome. The Asian Games is a major event in Asia, and it is a great honor to bring the Thailand national team to compete. Our goal is certainly to perform at our best and advance as far as possible. Being in the same group as Japan, the host, is a good opportunity to face one of Asia's top teams."
"Regarding key players, I believe teamwork is crucial. Our team has no superstar; everyone must work together. We see Japan as a team we have followed closely in every squad; they play as a team with strong teamwork without a single key man. It's beneficial that we previously had several quality Japanese coaches working in Thailand at both club and national levels, allowing us to learn from their expertise. Many Thai players have played in Japan, and some have returned to Thailand to help develop our league and national team, strengthening each team’s performance."
"Since arriving, we have received a warm welcome and strict security measures. The hotel accommodations are very secure. Everything, including the variety and taste of the food, suits the players and staff well. The training venue is close to our lodging, and the field and weather conditions are not very different from those in Thailand at this time."
"In our first game against Kyrgyzstan during the recent FIFA international window in June, we had a chance to play a friendly match against them and observed their system and strength. That served as a valuable lesson for us. We have confidence in our players' abilities and preparation, and we believe we can compete well against Kyrgyzstan."
"Our players have had several opportunities to face Japan in youth tournaments, which is beneficial and can help this squad. It is important to combine various experiences, including playing against Japan and the fact that many players have been part of the senior Thailand national team, which brings valuable experience and should improve our performance and team effectiveness."
The Thailand national team is in Group A with Japan, Kyrgyzstan, and Hong Kong. The group stage will be played in a round-robin format, with the group winner and runner-up advancing to the knockout rounds.
Match 1
16 September 2026
Thailand vs. Kyrgyzstan
14:00 Thailand time
Toyota Stadium, Aichi, Japan
Live on: ONE HD31 and AIS PLAY application
Match 2
20 September 2026
Hong Kong vs. Thailand
14:00 Thailand time
Toyota Stadium, Aichi, Japan
Live on: Thairath TV Channel 32 and AIS PLAY application
Match 3
23 September 2026
Japan vs. Thailand
17:30 Thailand time
Toyota Stadium, Aichi, Japan
Live on: Thairath TV Channel 32 and AIS PLAY application