Thai youth make a splash in Japan! The Songkhla under-12 team, representing Thailand, won two straight matches to advance to the semifinals of the "Captain Tsubasa Cup" in Japan. The team made a remarkable showing on the international stage.
On 10 January 2026, the youth football team from Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province, champions of the "Songkhla Cup 2025" youth and community football tournament under-12 category, represented Thailand with outstanding performance. They opened the international competition with two straight wins to reach the semifinals of the "Captain Tsubasa Cup" held in Tokyo, Japan, from 10 to 11 January 2026.
On the first day of competition (10 January 2026), the Songkhla youth played two matches and performed excellently. In the first match, they defeated the local Musashi FC youth team 1-0 with the winning goal scored by Chanudom Ruangkaew. In the second match, they continued their winning streak by beating Katsushika Select, another strong Japanese team, 2-0, with goals from Nontaphat Mhadmeen and Chanon Thepbua-kaew.
With two consecutive wins, the youth team from Songkhla topped their group and successfully advanced to the semifinals. They are scheduled to play two more matches tomorrow (11 January 2026).
A special feature of this tournament is the honor of having Mr. Yoichi Takahashi, creator of the legendary football manga "Captain Tsubasa," serve as chairman of the opening ceremony. He will also present medals to all players again at the closing ceremony on 12 January 2026.
Moreover, the Songkhla youth team made history as the first foreign team invited to compete in the "Captain Tsubasa Cup." The atmosphere at the stadium was warm and supportive, with some parents traveling from Thailand to cheer their children from the sidelines, adding vibrant energy and crucial encouragement to the young Thai players on Japan's football stage.