"Madam Pang" announced that four provinces—Sisaket, Rayong, Ayutthaya, and Khon Kaen—have submitted bids to host the "King's Cup 2026," with the Thailand national team preparing to compete.
On 1 April 2026, the Football Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage plans for the "senior Thailand national team" to compete in various provinces. This aims to bring football, the nation's top sport, to different cities, stimulate the economy and tourism, and foster pride in each province's organized events.
The King's Cup football tournament has been graciously supported by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who bestowed the "King's Cup" trophy since 1968. His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn has continued this tradition since the 48th tournament in 2022. Currently, this royal trophy is the oldest in Thailand and ranks as the second oldest in Asia. The 52nd King's Cup will take place during the FIFA calendar from 9-17 November 2026 as a four-team tournament.
The deadline for hosting bids was 31 March 2026. Four provinces officially submitted their interest, meeting the Football Association's pre-stated conditions, which require basic readiness according to international match criteria set by the event organizers, including:
Sisaket Province: Sisaket Provincial Stadium.
Khon Kaen Province: Khon Kaen Provincial Administrative Organization Stadium.
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province: Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Stadium.
Rayong Province: Rayong Central Stadium and PTT Rayong Stadium.
*Note: Nakhon Ratchasima Province has officially withdrawn its bid to host.
Next, the Football Association's organizing committee will present the list of candidate provinces to the board for consideration, selecting the most prepared host based on all football-related dimensions—especially match quality, local football enthusiasm, tourism promotion, and economic impact—with the final decision to be announced later.