Anthony Hudson, coach of the Thailand national team, has finalized plans to rely on young players as the core squad for the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026 tournament.
On 23 June 2026, Anthony Hudson, coach of the "War Elephants" Thailand national football team, finalized plans to center the squad around young talent for the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026. This was decided during a meeting at the FA Thailand building conference room, under the Football Association of Thailand, where strategies were set for Thailand's participation in the ASEAN Cup 2026, scheduled between July and August, as well as the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 from September to October.
Anthony Hudson said, "During the meeting, we discussed our plans for the ASEAN Cup tournament. It’s admittedly a complicated time to select players because this tournament isn't held during FIFA international windows, and many players need to serve their clubs while preparing for pre-season. Naturally, we will try to select the players who are most ready and permitted by their clubs to participate in this competition."
"For now, we have initially planned to call the players for training camp starting 14 July. Between now and then, we will communicate with clubs to secure players to ensure the best readiness. Most players on this squad will be young prospects, with some experienced players providing guidance in certain positions. We aim to blend these players as effectively as possible, and our main objective is to give opportunities to young athletes."
"For this tournament, we will focus on each game individually and maintain clear communication and a shared goal of advancing as far as possible. We won’t place undue pressure on the players but will encourage them to perform at their best. Certainly, many nations are fielding their strongest teams and training abroad. We are focusing on ourselves and preparing as best as we can."
"Previously, we must admit that our performance may not have been ideal, influenced by several factors including the absence of key players and many athletes not being in peak match fitness since they haven't played regularly during the season. This contrasts with periods when players regularly competed during the season. I have learned a lot and worked closely with many players."
"Finally, I want to ask fans to support the team. I know fans want our team to perform well and succeed. Myself, the coaching staff, and the players all want to make our fans proud. Most importantly, I ask fans to encourage the players, especially the younger ones, as I believe this support is what the players need most."
The Thailand national team will start its training camp for the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026 on 14 July 2026. Thailand is placed in Group B alongside Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Laos. The group stage match schedule for Thailand is as follows:
Match 1
25 July 2026
Laos vs. Thailand
⏰ 20:00
Lao National Stadium, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic
Match 2
1 August 2026
Thailand vs. Malaysia
20:00
Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
Match 3
4 August 2026
Philippines vs. Thailand
20:00 Thailand time
New Clark City Athletics Stadium, Tarlac, Philippines
Match 4
8 August 2026
Thailand vs. Myanmar
20:00
Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand. In the ASEAN 2026 group stage, the group winners and runners-up will advance to the semifinals, which will be played home and away in knockout format to determine the champion.