Flashback to the packed stadium: Sisaket football fans queued to buy tickets to watch the Thailand national team, generating excitement again for King's Cup 2026.
On 6 Nov 2026 GMT+7, looking back four years to 27 May 2022 GMT+7, a feverish phenomenon occurred at Koh Klang Nam stadium in Sisaket province, the venue for the 52nd King's Cup football tournament scheduled for 12-17 Nov 2026 GMT+7.
That day marked the first time Sisaket hosted a Thailand national team football match, a FIFA A-Match friendly against Turkmenistan, which drew an unexpectedly strong response from local fans.
On match day, many fans from Sisaket and neighboring provinces lined up outside Koh Klang Nam stadium, bringing sandals, shirts, roll-ons, and other items while waiting to buy tickets to watch Thailand face Turkmenistan.
The ticket queue stretched from the stadium entrance all the way to the main road, with hundreds of cars and motorcycles parked along both sides. The first fan arrived at 4 a.m., while most came around 6 a.m. to wait for ticket sales starting at 1 p.m.
This demand forced organizers to increase on-site ticket sales from 3,000 to 6,000, reallocating sponsor quotas. Combined with pre-sold tickets, total attendance reached 16,614, exceeding the stadium's 12,000-seat capacity.
The match ended happily for the fans who patiently queued, as Thailand, coached by Mano Polking, narrowly defeated Turkmenistan 1-0 with a winning goal by Adisak Kraisorn.
Regarding current ticket sales for King's Cup 2026, about 40% remain unsold. This may be due to Brunei, Thailand's first opponent, replacing Bahrain who withdrew, being less popular, and the final match not falling on a weekend holiday.
However, many social media comments suggest that on match day, local fans will likely buy all or nearly all remaining tickets at the stadium, as locals prefer buying tickets in person over online bookings, and Thailand playing in Sisaket is a rare opportunity.
Therefore, we may once again witness Sisaket and nearby province fans creating a feverish atmosphere, queuing to buy King's Cup 2026 tickets and cheering for the Thailand national team until the stadium is packed, just like four years ago.
