"Hudson" answers fan questions about the possibility of seeing Thailand beat Japan in this lifetime.
On 3 Nov 2026 GMT+7, following recent events, Anthony Hudson, head coach of the Thailand national team, gave an interview and answered various questions on the 'Clear Rim Sen' program on Thairath Sport ahead of announcing the squad for the King’s Cup 2026 in Sisaket province.
At times, Thai fans asked whether Thailand has any chance of beating Japan in this lifetime, and if so, by what means?
Hudson replied, "Absolutely, 100 percent. With the quality we have, we can beat them 100 percent."
"Honestly, this message is mainly for the players because the coach has great confidence in this group. We have quality in terms of technique and ability. We have players with character and a very high level of passion who play for the nation. The only chance we have to secure results against top teams is to be fitter."
"As I mentioned, Thailand plays well for about 60 minutes. If we maintain inconsistency and repeat lapses in standards until the full 90 minutes, it’s impossible because in the final ten minutes, the opponents tend to run more than us."
"Watching Indonesia’s games, I noticed several matches where substitutions were important; some players got cramps and other issues. Of course, the coach understands the players’ potential well—they have quality, heart, and passion. But if we can’t maintain our running for the entire 90 minutes, it’s very difficult to consistently perform at that level. If I can answer the question, yes, we can do it."
The Thailand national team faces a tough challenge drawn in a group with Japan, Qatar, and Indonesia for the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, postponed to take place from 23 Dec 2027 to 21 Jan 2028.