Hudson admits that selecting players for the ASEAN Cup 2026 was the toughest challenge in his coaching career.
In the lead-up to the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026, scheduled from 24 July to 26 August, Thailand's head coach Anthony Hudson acknowledged that choosing the squad for this tournament was the hardest task of his coaching career, due to the tournament overlapping with the 2026/27 Thai League schedule.
Hudson said, "What we will do is select the best players to play in positions where they feel most successful. In the next four games, we will have a clear playing style and maintain it to build on."
"If we exclude the China game, because that game doesn't really count as it involved advantages like match fitness and other factors, we spoke to the players after the China match. We went to China to face their best team; they were ready to press us hard, with stronger, faster, and more agile players. Setting aside the China game, we have a relatively clear and straightforward playing method."
"Today, we have a good opportunity to test new players to be as prepared as possible. We will have 23 players in September-October, carrying on through to the Asian Cup. June might be challenging, but we achieved reasonably good results in two games. From September-October onward, we will select the best 23 players with a long-term plan through to the Asian Cup."
"Choosing players for this ASEAN Cup squad is not an excuse. Having worked with four national teams, this is the toughest player selection I've ever faced. It’s a difficult time. Every day, I’ve been calling Madam Pang and various clubs constantly to get the best possible players. That means I’m happy with the list we have, and we will go as far as we can in this tournament. I understand fans’ reactions to the China results; this squad has many younger players, and I want fans to understand the current situation."
"We want 7-8 quality young players, but we are not blaming the clubs because they also need to prepare their teams."
The Football Association of Thailand plans to announce the final 25-player roster for the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026 on 8 September at 14:00.
In the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026, Thailand is in Group B alongside Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Laos.