Anthony Hudson speaks candidly after the Thailand national team misses out on the 2026 ASEAN Cup title.
Following the "War Elephants" Thailand national football team’s 2-2 away draw against Vietnam’s "Golden Stars" in the second leg of the 2026 ASEAN Cup final, Thailand lost 2-4 on aggregate and settled for the runner-up position.
Anthony Hudson, head coach of the Thailand national football team, said after the match, "First, I want to congratulate Vietnam. They were very strong throughout this tournament. Personally, I’m proud of my players. I believe from these two final matches, we deserved more. We created many chances."
"In the first half, I believe our team performed at its best. We started the second half well too. We must admit the momentum shifted after the penalty, but we tried our best, took risks, and when you take risks by pushing the defense forward, you expose yourself. Over the past month, we've seen a lot of character; our players never gave up, always giving their all—both the young talents and the experienced ones. I think everyone performed incredibly well."
"I think everyone has seen it; I’m very satisfied. We deserved some reward. We have many young players—Kkhonah Kamyok stood out, and Chaipol Adton, who was called up to the senior national team for the first time in this tournament, along with many others I may not have mentioned. It’s fantastic, and I’m pleased that everyone has shown they can play at this level and contribute to the team."
"I think Vietnam also deserves credit. They are a good, strong team, and their federation has done very well. As I said, in these two matches, they played well and showed sharpness at crucial moments. We respect Vietnam, and I know these two games were tough, but we created many chances as well. Credit must be given to the Thailand national team too."
After this, the Thailand national team will return immediately, expected to arrive at Don Mueang Airport on 27 Aug 2026 at approximately 14:10 GMT+7. There will be a review of the team’s performance and preparations for the next competition, the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 in Indonesia, scheduled during the FIFA international window in September.