Announcing the Thailand national team squad for the King's Cup.
The squad list has been finalized.
The 23-player Thailand national team squad for the 52nd King's Cup football tournament in Sisaket has been announced.
Coach Anthony Hudson is not overly concerned with this call-up.
The main goal remains the final round of the 2027 Asian Cup.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recently announced the tournament's postponement from early next year to 23 Dec 2027 – 21 Jan 2028.
Saudi Arabia remains the host, as with the previously postponed 2026 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Riyadh.
Therefore, Hudson’s original plan to call up his best Asian Cup squad core has been set aside for now.
This King's Cup squad consists of players whose clubs have fully released them without conflicting commitments.
It also includes young prospects from the U23 team, the future generation of the national team, prepared for upcoming duties.
Overall, the squad looks quite promising.
Although captain Chanathip Songkrasin is absent due to injury since the FIFA ASEAN Futsal Cup, the coach wants him to rest.
However, "Ko Aum" Theerathon Boonmatan returns to help orchestrate the midfield after eight months.
Also included is "Teacher Ter" Weerathep Pomphan, called back as one of the team's playmakers.
Apart from Weerathep, four players from True Bangkok United—the "Kang Thep"—were called up, the most from any club.
These include goalkeeper "Mike" Patiwat Khammai and defenders James Beresford and Suphan Thongsong.
Also selected is young attacker "Jea Seafour" Khakhan Khamyok.
It is a pity that "Noom Ben" Benjamin Davis, who impressed at Uthai Thani, is again not included.
Similarly, "Jea Book" Ekanit Panya was not selected.
Hudson seems to prefer the style of teammate Thanawat Suengchitthawon from Ratchaburi instead.
If "Jea Gun" is healthy and fit, he will surely be called up every time.
Hudson affirmed that both Ben Davis and Ekanit still have a future with the national team, possibly in future opportunities.
All four foreign-based players are included in this squad.
They are Nicholas Mickelson, the fierce full-back of newly promoted Bundesliga side Elversberg.
"Jea Check" Supachok Sarachat, who has reclaimed a starting spot at Consadole Sapporo in Japan's J2 League.
Theerapat Promthep, who had been quiet lately, recently appeared as a substitute and assisted in a big team win.
The most anticipated return is "Jea Bank" Suphanat Mueanta, back after nearly two years out with frequent injuries.
Suphanat recently recovered, played as a substitute for Omiya Ardija, and is fit again.
He confirmed he will rejoin the national team for the King's Cup alongside his older brother Supachok in Sisaket, their hometown.
However, he will join the team only for the second match, the final, on Tuesday, 17 Nov.
This is because Omiya wants to use the Thai striker in the J2 League match against Yamagata on Saturday, 14 Nov, before releasing him back to Thailand.
According to the King's Cup schedule, this should not pose any problems.
Thailand is expected to advance to the final without much difficulty.
Unless on 14 Nov, Coach Hudson's luck runs out.
If Thailand suffers an upset loss to 196th-ranked Brunei Darussalam and misses the final.
That would surely cause turmoil within the Football Association.
- Bee Bangpakong -