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Thailand national football team facts for kids

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Thailand
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) ช้างศึก (Changsuek)
(War elephants)
Association FA Thailand
Confederation AFC (Asia)
Sub-confederation AFF (Southeast Asia)
Head coach Alexandré Pölking
Captain Theerathon Bunmathan
Most caps Kiatisuk Senamuang (134)
Top scorer Kiatisuk Senamuang (71)
Home stadium Rajamangala Stadium
FIFA code THA
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 115 Increase 3 (7 February 2019)
Highest 43 (September 1998)
Lowest 165 (October 2014)
Elo ranking
Current 119 Decrease 14 (3 March 2019)
Highest 62 (January 2001)
Lowest 137 (April 1985)
First international
 Thailand 1–6 China 
(Bangkok, Thailand; 20 August 1948)
Biggest win
 Thailand 10–0 Brunei 
(Bangkok, Thailand; 25 May 1971)
Biggest defeat
 Great Britain 9–0 Thailand 
(Melbourne, Australia; 30 November 1956)
Asian Cup
Appearances 8 (first in 1972)
Best result Third place (1972)
AFF Championship
Appearances 13 (first in 1996)
Best result Champions (1996, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2020)
Website fathailand.org

The Thailand national football team (Thai: ฟุตบอลทีมชาติไทย, RTGS: futbon thim chat thai, pronounced Script error: No such module "IPA".) represents Thailand in senior international football and is controlled by the Football Association of Thailand.

In the regional competition, Thailand is the most successful football team in Southeast Asia with six AFF Championship trophies and nine senior-level gold medals from the Southeast Asian Games, the most of any Southeast Asian country. In higher levels, Thailand achieved the third place in the 1972 AFC Asian Cup where it was the host, and has totally seven appearances in the AFC Asian Cup so far. Furthermore, the team reached the fourth-place in the 1990 and 1998 Asian Games and participated in the Summer Olympics twice. However, Thailand has failed to obtain higher achievements in the continental and global records. The team obtained first ever win in the AFC Asian Cup in 2007 and had to wait 47 years to finally sneak out of the group stage in 2019. Thailand also advanced to the final round of World Cup qualification twice, in 2002 and 2018, but all failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.

History

1915–1995: dynastic establishment

King Vajiravudh Rama VI
King Vajiravudh, the founder of the Football Association of Thailand
Siam Football Team
Siam association football squad's pioneers.

The team's predecessor, which operated under the name of Siam, was founded in 1915 and played its first unofficial match against a team of Europeans at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club Stadium on 20 December that year. The team played its first international match in 1930 against the Indochina national team, which included both South Vietnamese and French players.

Thai team at 1956 Summer Olympics
Thailand football members at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics before their biggest defeat by the United Kingdom.

Thailand appeared in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, where they've lost to Great Britain 0–9 is largest till date, thus failed to advance to the quarter-finals. In 1965, Thailand harbored its first distinct title: the very first place in the Southeast Asian Games. They made their second and latest appearance at the Summer Olympics in 1968, losing all three matches by at least 3 goals margin to Bulgaria, Guatemala, and Czechoslovakia hence en route to a first-round exit.

During the 1992 AFC Asian Cup qualification, Thailand gained a significant success defeating South Korea 2–1 and Bangladesh 1–0 to top the group and qualify to the 1992 AFC Asian Cup. The team's performance at the final tournament was drawing first two matches with Qatar and eventual 3rd place China then losing 0–4 to Saudi Arabia. In 1994, manager Thawatchai Sartjakul assembled a team that has been denounced as the "dream team" with players like Kiatisuk Senamuang, Tawan Sripan and Dusit Chalermsan.

1996–2016: flag bearer of Southeast Asia

2007 AFC Asian Cup Welcome Banner
A welcome banner at Rajamangala Stadium, venue for the 2007 Group A AFC Asian Cup matches.

In 1996, Thailand defeated Malaysia 1–0 and win the ASEAN Football Championship (then called the Tiger Cup) for the first time. Thailand were favorites to regain the crown in 2007, 2008 and 2012 only to lose tight finals to Singapore and Vietnam respectively.

The regional 1998 Tiger Cup saw Thailand met Indonesia in a match that ill-hearted players from both team deliberately making actions aimed to avoid facing hosts Vietnam in the semi-finals and undergoing technical burden of moving training bases from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. FIFA fined both teams $40,000 for "violating the spirit of the game". Thailand eventually lost the match, inevitably encountered and failed to Vietnam in the semi-finals.

Thailand consecutively qualified to and participated in two AFC Asian Cup final tournaments both held within Western Asia in 1996 and 2000 when their "dream team" was beginning its golden period. Coincidentally in both editions, the team's opponents all came from Western Asia and they are Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Iran and Iraq, with the latter two share the same group with Thailand twice. In both editions, Thailand made two draws and lost the rest, bottomed the group stage of the first and is the worst third-placed team of the second edition.

Soccer Field Transparant.svg

Wirat
Choketawee
Niweat
Surachai
Thanunchai
Tanongsak
Anurak
Surachai (c)
Tawan
Worrawoot
Thailand's 2000 AFF Championship final starting line-up.

The final 2000 AFF Championship match between Thailand and Indonesia, at a sold out Rajamangala, was almost a carbon copy of their group stage's encounter. The War Elephants triumphed 4–1 again with Worrawoot setting up camp at the opponents' goal. The 28-year-old scored twice in their first match and in the final struck a hat-trick in the first 32 minutes. In the final 2002 AFF final, Thailand again met Indonesia (who was now the host) and was hold draw despite taking a 2–0 lead and won the game in the penalty shootout.

Thailand again qualified to the Asian Cup in 2004 and was put into a group with Japan, Iran and debutant Oman. Despite vast experiences in the Asian Cup, the team has yet to show a sign of improvement as they lost all matches and became the worst-performed team in the whole tournament.

The sign of improving only came in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup when Thailand participated as a well-prepared co-host and was placed with the debutant Australia, Oman and Iraq. The team manages a draw to Iraq and a historic win over Oman. With 4 points ahead, Thailand's chance to qualify to the next round for the first time since 1972 was all but shattered by the likes of Australia in a 0–4 demolition. The tournament witnessed the end of Thailand's recognizable generation with later retirements of Kiatisuk, Tawan and Pipat.

In September 2008, Thailand signed a four-year contract with the English coach Peter Reid but Reid left his position by mutual consent after only a year in charge as his team fail to clinch the championship of 2008 AFF Championship after 2–3 on aggregate lost to Vietnam in the finals.

In September 2009, Bryan Robson agreed to coach Thailand in his first foray into international football management and was contracted to manage the team through to the 2014 World Cup. In November, Robson celebrated his first competitive match in charge of the team with an away victory against Singapore in a 2011 Asian Cup qualifying group match but then lose to the same opponent back home. Then, two goalless draws with Jordan and Iran in January 2010 and an 0–1 away lost to Iran in March all effectively ended the chance of qualifying for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. In preparations for the 2010 AFF Championship, Robson led Thailand to victorious run against Singapore and Bob Houghton's India in a series of friendlies. However, when entering the tournament in December, he failed to bring Thailand past group A after managing only draws against Laos and Malaysia and losing to Indonesia.

Robson resigned as Thailand's manager on 8 June 2011, citing health problems as the reason and was replaced by Winfried Schäfer, who would be the ninth German person to coach the Thailand team.

The new coach called up starlets for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers and have the starting set of matches losing minimal to Australia, defeating Oman 3–0 and drawing Saudi Arabia but did not make it after losing to these teams altogether in the second set. In the 2012 AFF Championship, Thailand topped their group and surpassed Malaysia in semi-finals but handed the crown to Singapore in the finals. In the 2015 Asian Cup qualification, Thailand showed setback with its defensive frailties exposed by Middle Eastern rivals (Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon) when losing all 6 games in the qualifiers, conceding 21 goals in the process.

In June 2013, Schäfer cancelled his contract. The FA of Thailand appointed the former player Kiatisuk Senamuang as the new caretaker coach for the national team. His first ride was a friendly against China PR on 15 June, which Thailand surprisingly won 5–1.

Soccer Field Transparant.svg

Kawin
Tanaboon
Adisorn
Pratum
Tristan
Theerathon
Sarach
Chanathip
Siroch
Thailand's 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup second leg of the finals starting line-up.
2014 AFF Suzuki Champions
Thailand team celebrated after winning the 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup at Bukit Jalil, Malaysia.

In 2014, Thailand ended a 12-year drought of the AFF Championship title from the late goals by Charyl Chappuis and Chanathip Songkrasin which gave them a dramatic 4–3 aggregate victory over Malaysia in the second leg of the finals at Bukit Jalil. The team did not lose any match up until the second leg of the finals and often featured a tiki-taka playing style, for instance including 27 consecutive passes during the first leg of the finals against Malaysia. Kiatisuk consequently became the first person to win the ASEAN Football Championship as both a player and a coach. Thailand succeeded in protecting AFF Championship reign two years later in 2016, defeating Indonesia 3–2 aggregately despite losing the first leg.

In 2015, evasion fuelled hope for both the players and Thailand fans of finally reaching the World Cup tournament and tension is mounting as the national team commenced AFC's second round for 2018 World Cup qualification. Teerasil Dangda, Thailand's renowned striker, rejoined the rank of the national team after his loan with UD Almería ended earlier. Drawn in Group F along with Chinese Taipei, Iraq and Vietnam, who Thailand played first match home against on 24 May and can only be won by a victory goal from a shot 20 yards away. They played a much easier match at the same opponent's home soil, winning 3–0. Thailand won both matches against Chinese Taipei and drew 2–2 both matches against Iraq, allowing them to qualify for the next round as group F winners. In the last round, Kiatisuk's men shared the same group with Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, UAE along with previous opponent, Iraq. Again, Thailand was eliminated without winning a match and recorded only two points out of ten matches.

2017–present: Rebuilding to achieve the continental success

THA-BHR 20190110 Asian Cup 3
Thailand in 2019 AFC Asian Cup

Since taking over the administration by Somyot Poompanmoung, FA Thailand aims to drive men's national football team to be one of the leading teams in Asia by which there are concrete 20 years development plans and preparations. After the elimination from World Cup qualifiers, Kiatisuk resigned and Thailand appointed Milovan Rajevac as a coach, thus marked the first non-Brazilian/German/English team's chief. With the new coach, however, Thailand failed to defend its AFF Championship title in 2018 when losing Malaysia in the semi-finals by the away goals rule.

Ahead of 2019 AFC Asian Cup, Thailand was drawn into group A together with the host UAE, Bahrain and India. Rajevac oversaw Thailand in the commencing 1–4 loss to India. The Serbian coach was sacked and his assistant, Sirisak Yodyardthai became the interim coach on 7 January. Sirisak guided Thailand to a 1–0 win over Bahrain and a 1–1 draw with the host UAE, enough to move on to the knockout stage of the AFC Asian Cup for the first time in 47 years. Their success was greeted with congratulation from the FA. Thailand encountered China in the round of sixteen, taking an early lead but eventually lost 2–1 as China make their decisive respond.

Soccer Field Transparant.svg

Chatchai
Bihr
Kritsada
Narubadin
Theerathon
Phitiwat
Thanawat
Sarach
Chanathip (C)
Supachok
The usual starting line-up of the 2020 AFF Championship winning team.

After finishing in the fourth place of 2019 King's Cup and losing the rival Vietnam in that tournament, Sirisak had resigned and FA Thailand appointed the Japanese coach Akira Nishino, who had brought Japan to the round of 16 of 2018 FIFA World Cup, for replacement. This was the first-ever Asian coach becoming Thailand's head coach. The team was drawn into group G of the second round of 2022 World Cup qualification with other three Southeast Asian rivals: Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia; along with the UAE. Despite defeating Indonesia 3-0 and the UAE 2–1, Thailand failed to revenge Vietnam when getting goalless draws in both legs, while losing Malaysia 1–2 in Bukit Jalil. With these results, Thailand could only get the third place in group G after five qualifying matches. After a one-year disruption due to COVID-19 pandemic, Thailand and other teams in group G had to play their remaining matches in Dubai, UAE. However, the team suffered a huge loss of key players when Chanathip Songkrasin was injured, while Teerasil Dangda and Theerathon Bunmathan refused to participate the qualification due to various reasons. Without these three players, Thailand showed a poor performance in Dubai - drawn the bottom place team Indonesia 2-2, then lost the UAE 1-3 and Malaysia 0–1, respectively; which eventually pushed the team down to the fourth place of the group G. Nishino did not come back to Thailand to explain the team's failure, but unilaterally returning to Japan, which made FA Thailand appoint Anurak Srikerd as the caretaker and consider sacking Nishino in upcoming days. On July 29, 2021, shortly after Nishino came back to Thailand, FA Thailand decided to terminate the contract with Nishino.

On 28 September 2021, Alexandré Pölking had been appointed as the head coach of the Thai national team, replacing Akira Nishino. Pölking's first task was the 2020 AFF Championship in December 2021. Between 5 December 2021 and 1 January 2022, Polking accomplished the very task as he managed the War Elephants to win 6–2 on aggregate after being held to 2–2 second-leg draw by Indonesia's Garuda, guiding Thailand to win the AFF Championship for the sixth time.

Image

Colours

1968 team shirt
Vintage 1968 Summer Olympics shirt.

In older days, the primary kits worn are all red.

The Thai senior national team used to play with a kit made by local provider FBT. This contract lasted until June 2007.

In July 2007, Nike became kit providers, and from October that year, the team played in an all-yellow home kit in honour of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 80th birthday (yellow being the royal color), having used two other yellow kits in friendlies against China on 16 May 2007 and Qatar on 2 July 2007.

From October 2012 through 2016, Nike was replaced by Grand Sport in a deal worth 96M baht (3.1M USD). The new home kit of Thailand reverted to all-red and the away kit to all-blue. However, the order was reversed from the 2014 AFF Championship onward.

In September 2016, the national team signed a four-year contract with Warrix Sports to be their kit provider from 2017. On 4 January 2017, the new provider introduced a new pair of Thailand kits that was all black home and all white away, honouring their late King Bhumibol for a year after his passing, with black and white being the traditional Thai colors of mourning.

In March 2018, Warrix returned Thailand to the all-blue first, all-red second kits with an addition of a white-black third kit.

In December 2018, a new, darker version of blue, red kits and an all white third kit were presented for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup campaign and the rest of 2019. For the 2019 King's Cup in May, Warrix released the kit consisting of a yellow shirt with white shorts and socks – yellow reportedly being the favorite color of the newly crowned King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Rivalries

Notable rivalries

Thailand has rivalries with Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. These rivalries are rooted in geographical proximity.

Opponent GP W D L GF GA GD Win % Details
 Malaysia &&&&&&&&&&&&0113.&&&&&0113 &&&&&&&&&&&&&033.&&&&&033 &&&&&&&&&&&&&038.&&&&&038 &&&&&&&&&&&&&042.&&&&&042 &&&&&&&&&&&&0151.&&&&&0151 &&&&&&&&&&&&0162.&&&&&0162 −11 &&&&&&&&&&&&&029.20000029.20
 Indonesia &&&&&&&&&&&&&071.&&&&&071 &&&&&&&&&&&&&034.&&&&&034 &&&&&&&&&&&&&019.&&&&&019 &&&&&&&&&&&&&018.&&&&&018 &&&&&&&&&&&&0127.&&&&&0127 &&&&&&&&&&&&&084.&&&&&084 +43 &&&&&&&&&&&&&047.89000047.89
 Singapore &&&&&&&&&&&&&063.&&&&&063 &&&&&&&&&&&&&034.&&&&&034 &&&&&&&&&&&&&017.&&&&&017 &&&&&&&&&&&&&012.&&&&&012 &&&&&&&&&&&&0109.&&&&&0109 &&&&&&&&&&&&&062.&&&&&062 +47 &&&&&&&&&&&&&053.97000053.97
 Myanmar &&&&&&&&&&&&&050.&&&&&050 &&&&&&&&&&&&&022.&&&&&022 &&&&&&&&&&&&&014.&&&&&014 &&&&&&&&&&&&&014.&&&&&014 &&&&&&&&&&&&&099.&&&&&099 &&&&&&&&&&&&&062.&&&&&062 +37 &&&&&&&&&&&&&044.&&&&&044.00 Matches
 South Vietnam &&&&&&&&&&&&&027.&&&&&027 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.&&&&&03 &&&&&&&&&&&&&020.&&&&&020 &&&&&&&&&&&&&027.&&&&&027 &&&&&&&&&&&&&058.&&&&&058 −31 &&&&&&&&&&&&&014.81000014.81 Matches
 Vietnam &&&&&&&&&&&&&026.&&&&&026 &&&&&&&&&&&&&016.&&&&&016 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.&&&&&03 &&&&&&&&&&&&&046.&&&&&046 &&&&&&&&&&&&&017.&&&&&017 +29 &&&&&&&&&&&&&061.54000061.54 Matches

Thailand's greatest rival is Malaysia, the two teams having played each other 97 times. Before Malaysia fell into football scandal that weakened the country's football development from the 1990s to 2018, Malaysia was Thailand's most annoying and difficult opponent in the region. Despite the football scandal, Thailand have not defeated the Malaysians on their home turf since 1990. Nonetheless, Thailand holds overall higher records in international football competitions compared to the Malaysians. Still, Thailand's overall record against Malaysia is not favorable with only 29 wins, 31 draws and 37 losses to the Malayan Tigers.

The rivalry between Thailand and Singapore is a newer one and its importance can be emphasized by the domination of both countries in the AFF Championship with Thailand winning five times and Singapore winning four. Up until 2012, Singapore and Thailand have been the more dominant forces in Southeast Asian football. Thailand has a decided head-to-head advantage on Singapore, beating the Singaporeans 33 times, drawing 17 times and losing 12 times. Football development in both countries have been different with Thailand relies mostly on its own domestically developed players while Singapore has been reliant on naturalized players.

Thailand's rivalry with Vietnam has developed differently from times. During the time of South Vietnam and North Vietnam, Thailand had a poorer performance with the team only won 4 matches against the South Vietnamese. However, when Vietnam rejoined international football at 1991, Thailand has been more dominant than their eastern rival, winning 14 matches.

When Myanmar was still a football power, it was Thailand's first-ever rival, owning by the history of the Burmese–Siamese wars which led to a nationalist fervor among Thai fans with its desire to beat the Burmese. But with Myanmar weakened following the reign of Ne Win and junta, Thailand improved and since 1983, holds an undefeated streak over its western rival. The rivalry today only serves mostly in the memoir of Burmese fans who are nostalgic to an era when Myanmar was still a leading football power, while for some Thai fans, they have more important opponents to concentrate at. Thailand has 21 wins, 14 draws and 15 losses to Myanmar.

Indonesia has met Thailand in three finals of the AFF Championship at 2000, 2002 and 2016, and Thailand all triumphed at the expense of Indonesia. It's been said that while Thailand was able to elevate its position to become a more serious Asian competitor, Indonesia fell into mismanagement and matches between two teams also began to lose its importance. Thailand has a decided edge in head-to-head matchups against Indonesia, with 33 wins and 18 losses and 18 draws.

Facilities

Most home matches took place in Rajamangala National Stadium in Bang Kapi District of Bangkok. Built for the 1998 Asian Games, the stadium is the largest sporting facility in Thailand with a capacity of 49,749, all seated. International matches are also occasionally played at Supachalasai Stadium, 700th Anniversary Stadium, 80th Birthday Stadium, Thammasat Stadium, Chang Arena and SCG Stadium.

Home stadiums list
Image Stadium Capacity Location Last match
700th Anniversary Stadium.jpg 700th Anniversary Stadium 25,000 Amphoe Mueang, Chiang Mai v   Trinidad and Tobago
(25 September 2022; 2022 King's Cup)
LEO Stadium 2017.jpg BG Stadium 16,014 Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani v   Bahrain
(31 May 2022; Friendly match)
Sisaket Provincial Stadium 15,000 Amphoe Mueang, Sisaket v   Turkmenistan
(27 May 2022; Friendly match)
Chonburi Stadium.jpg Chonburi Stadium 8,680 Amphoe Mueang, Chonburi v     Nepal
(24 March 2022; Friendly match)
Thammasat Stadium.jpg Thammasat Stadium 25,000 Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani v   Chinese Taipei
(14 December 2022; Friendly match)
Isan, Mueang Buri Ram District, Buri Ram 31000, Thailand - panoramio (6).jpg Chang Arena 32,600 Amphoe Mueang, Buriram v   India
(8 June 2019; 2019 King's Cup)
RajamangalaStadium.jpg Rajamangala Stadium 49,722 Bang Kapi, Bangkok v   Malaysia
(5 December 2018; 2018 AFF Championship)
FC Suphamburi Stadium.jpg Suphan Buri Provincial Stadium 15,000 Amphoe Mueang, Suphan Buri v   Trinidad and Tobago
(14 October 2018; Friendly match)
ScG Stadium.jpg SCG Stadium 15,000 Pak Kret, Nonthaburi v   Kenya
(8 October 2017; Friendly match)
Suphachalasai Stadium 2015.jpg Supachalasai Stadium 19,793 Pathum Wan, Bangkok v   Korea Republic
(27 March 2016; Friendly match)
Korat v Thailand XI.JPG 80th Birthday Stadium 20,141 Amphoe Mueang, Nakhon Ratchasima v   Singapore
(26 March 2015; Friendly match)
ASEAN Cup 2008.JPG Surakul Stadium 15,000 Amphoe Mueang, Phuket v   Denmark
(23 January 2009; 2009 King's Cup)
Tinsulanonstadium2014.jpg Tinsulanon Stadium 45,000 Amphoe Mueang, Songkhla v   China PR
(19 December 1998; 1998 Asian Games)

Fixtures

Fixtures are broadcast by Thairath TV (for friendlies and round 2 of FIFA World Cup - AFC qualification matches) and Channel 7 (for the AFF Suzuki Cup, possible round 3 of FIFA World Cup - AFC qualification and AFC Asian Cup matches, due to broadcasting contract with Lagardère Sports and Entertainment).

  • Record only the results that affect the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. See FIFA 'A' matches criteria.

      Win       Draw       Loss

2022

2023

Coaching staff

Name Role
Technical Director Spain Carles Romangosa
General Manager Thailand Nualphan Lamsam
Head Coach Brazil Alexandré Pölking
Assistant Coach Thailand Wasapol Kaewpaluk
Thailand Nuengrutai Srathongvian
Goalkeeper Coach Thailand Umarin Yaodam
Fitness Coach Japan Yohei Shiraki
Video Analyst Portugal Luís Viegas
Team Doctor Thailand Keerati Surakan
Thailand Ekaphop Piansuset
Physiotherapist Thailand Panuwat Chutichotlimsakul
Thailand Radapak Raweethanawed
Thailand Suwitcha Nordee
Technical Consultant Thailand Anan Amornkiat
Thailand Jadet Meelarp
General Secretary Thailand Patit Suphaphongs
Kit Manager Thailand Thanawat Ngualamhin

Coaching history

  • Thailand Bunchoo Samutkojon (1956–1964)
  • Thailand Pratiab Thesvisarn (1965–1968)
  • West Germany Günther Glomb (1968–1975)
  • Thailand Naowarat Patanon (1975)
  • West Germany Peter Schnittger (1976–1978)
  • West Germany Werner Bickelhaupt (1979)
  • Thailand Vichit Yamboonraungb (1979)
  • Thailand Supakit Meelarpkit (1980)
  • Thailand Prawit Chaisam (1981–1983, 1988–1989)
  • Thailand Yanyong Na Nongkhai (1983)
  • Thailand Saner Chaiyong (1984)
  • West Germany Burkhard Ziese (1985–1986)
  • Thailand Chirtsak Chaiyaboot (1987)
  • Brazil Carlos Roberto (1989–1991)
  • Germany Peter Stubbe (1991–1994)
  • Thailand Worawit Sumpachanyasathit (1994)
  • Thailand Chatchai Paholpat (1994–1995, 2004)
  • Thailand Thawatchai Sartjakul (1996)
  • Thailand Arjhan Srong-ngamsub (1996)
  • Germany Dettmar Cramer (1997)
  • Thailand Witthaya Laohakul (1997–1998)
  • England Peter Withe (1998–2003)
  • Brazil Carlos Roberto (2003–2004)
  • Germany Sigfried Held (2004)
  • Thailand Charnwit Polcheewin (2005–2008)
  • England Peter Reid (2008–2009)
  • England Bryan Robson (2009–2011)
  • Germany Winfried Schäfer (2011–2013)
  • Thailand Surachai Jaturapattarapong (2013)
  • Thailand Kiatisuk Senamuang (2014–2017)
  • Serbia Milovan Rajevac (2017–2019)
  • Thailand Sirisak Yodyardthai (2019)
  • Japan Akira Nishino (2019–2021)
  • Brazil Alexandré Pölking (2021–present)

Manager history

after the match against  Cambodia.

Manager Period Record
Matches Won Draw Lost Win % Honours
Thailand Witthaya Laohakul 1997–1998 24 10 9 5 41.67% 1997 Southeast Asian Games
England Peter Withe 1998–2003 101 46 25 30 45.54% 1999 Southeast Asian Games
2000 AFF Championship
2000 King's Cup
2002 AFF Championship
Brazil Carlos Roberto 2003–2004 13 6 2 5 46.15%
Thailand Chatchai Paholpat 2004 8 2 1 5 25.00%
Germany Sigfried Held 2004–2005 11 4 4 3 36.36%
Thailand Charnwit Polcheewin 2005–2008 39 18 11 10 46.15% 2006 King's Cup
2007 King's Cup
England Peter Reid 2008–2009 17 9 4 4 52.94%
England Bryan Robson 2009–2011 15 6 4 5 40.00%
Germany Winfried Schäfer 2011–2013 28 14 6 8 50.00%
Thailand Surachai Jaturapattarapong (caretaker) 2013 3 0 0 3 0.00%
Thailand Kiatisuk Senamuang 2014–2017 42 21 7 14 50.00% 2014 AFF Championship
2016 AFF Championship
2016 King's Cup
Serbia Milovan Rajevac 2017–2019 20 8 7 5 40.00% 2017 King's Cup
Thailand Sirisak Yodyardthai (caretaker) 2019 7 2 1 4 28.57%
Japan Akira Nishino 2019–2021 11 2 5 4 18.18%
Brazil Alexandré Pölking 2021–present 23 16 4 3 69.57% 2020 AFF Championship
Manager Period Record
Matches Won Draw Lost Win % Honours

Players

Current squad

The following 23 players were called up for the 2022 AFF Championship.

Caps and goals as of 2 January 2023, after the match against Cambodia.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Kampol Pathomakkakul (1992-07-29) 29 July 1992 (age 31) 3 0 Thailand Ratchaburi
20 1GK Kittipong Phuthawchueak (1989-09-26) 26 September 1989 (age 34) 7 0 Thailand BG Pathum United
23 1GK Saranon Anuin (1994-03-24) 24 March 1994 (age 29) 0 0 Thailand Chiangrai United

2 2DF Sasalak Haiprakhon (1996-01-08) 8 January 1996 (age 27) 19 0 Thailand Buriram United
3 2DF Theerathon Bunmathan (captain) (1990-02-06) 6 February 1990 (age 33) 79 6 Thailand Buriram United
4 2DF Pansa Hemviboon (1990-07-08) 8 July 1990 (age 33) 34 6 Thailand Buriram United
5 2DF Chalermsak Aukkee (1994-08-25) 25 August 1994 (age 29) 5 0 Thailand Police Tero
12 2DF Kritsada Kaman (1999-03-18) 18 March 1999 (age 24) 16 0 Thailand Chonburi
15 2DF Suphanan Bureerat (1993-10-10) 10 October 1993 (age 30) 9 1 Thailand Port
16 2DF Jakkapan Praisuwan (1994-08-16) 16 August 1994 (age 29) 5 0 Thailand BG Pathum United
19 2DF Chatmongkol Rueangthanarot (2002-05-09) 9 May 2002 (age 21) 3 0 Thailand Chonburi

6 3MF Sarach Yooyen (1992-05-30) 30 May 1992 (age 31) 64 4 Thailand BG Pathum United
7 3MF Sumanya Purisai (1986-12-05) 5 December 1986 (age 37) 26 1 Thailand Chonburi
8 3MF Peeradon Chamratsamee (1992-09-15) 15 September 1992 (age 31) 12 2 Thailand Buriram United
11 3MF Bordin Phala (1994-12-20) 20 December 1994 (age 28) 28 4 Thailand Port
13 3MF Jaroensak Wonggorn (1997-05-18) 18 May 1997 (age 26) 6 0 Thailand Muangthong United
14 3MF Sanrawat Dechmitr (1989-08-03) 3 August 1989 (age 34) 31 0 Free agent
17 3MF Ekanit Panya (1999-10-21) 21 October 1999 (age 24) 13 1 Thailand Muangthong United
18 3MF Weerathep Pomphan (1996-09-19) 19 September 1996 (age 27) 12 0 Thailand Muangthong United
22 3MF Channarong Promsrikaew (2001-04-17) 17 April 2001 (age 22) 7 1 Thailand Chonburi

9 4FW Adisak Kraisorn (1991-02-01) 1 February 1991 (age 32) 52 20 Malaysia Terengganu
10 4FW Teerasil Dangda (1988-06-06) 6 June 1988 (age 35) 120 60 Thailand BG Pathum United
21 4FW Poramet Arjvirai (1998-07-20) 20 July 1998 (age 25) 5 0 Thailand Muangthong United

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up within the last 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Siwarak Tedsungnoen (1984-04-20) 20 April 1984 (age 39) 33 0 Thailand Buriram United v.  Uzbekistan, 14 June 2022
GK Kawin Thamsatchanan (1990-01-26) 26 January 1990 (age 33) 64 0 Thailand Muangthong United v.  Uzbekistan, 14 June 2022
GK Patiwat Khammai (1994-12-24) 24 December 1994 (age 28) 2 0 Thailand Bangkok United v.  Suriname, 27 March 2022

DF Narubadin Weerawatnodom (1994-07-12) 12 July 1994 (age 29) 37 1 Thailand Buriram United 2022 King's Cup
DF Tristan Do (1993-01-31) 31 January 1993 (age 30) 48 0 Thailand Bangkok United v.  Uzbekistan, 14 June 2022
DF Peerapat Notchaiya (1993-02-04) 4 February 1993 (age 30) 32 1 Thailand Bangkok United v.  Uzbekistan, 14 June 2022
DF Manuel Bihr (1993-09-17) 17 September 1993 (age 30) 18 0 Thailand Bangkok United v.  Suriname, 27 March 2022
DF Philip Roller (1994-06-10) 10 June 1994 (age 29) 17 2 Thailand Port v.  Suriname, 27 March 2022
DF Kevin Deeromram (1997-09-11) 11 September 1997 (age 26) 3 0 Thailand Port v.  Suriname, 27 March 2022

MF Sivakorn Tiatrakul (1994-07-07) 7 July 1994 (age 29) 10 0 Thailand Chiangrai United 2022 AFF Championship INJ
MF Chanathip Songkrasin (1993-10-05) 5 October 1993 (age 30) 58 12 Japan Kawasaki Frontale 2022 King's Cup
MF Thitiphan Puangchan (1993-09-01) 1 September 1993 (age 30) 51 7 Thailand Bangkok United 2022 King's Cup
MF Jakkaphan Kaewprom (1988-05-24) 24 May 1988 (age 35) 21 2 Thailand Ratchaburi 2022 King's Cup
MF Phitiwat Sukjitthammakul (1995-02-01) 1 February 1995 (age 28) 21 0 Thailand BG Pathum United 2022 King's Cup
MF Supachok Sarachat (1998-05-22) 22 May 1998 (age 25) 20 6 Japan Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 2022 King's Cup
MF Pathompol Charoenrattanapirom (1994-04-21) 21 April 1994 (age 29) 14 1 Thailand BG Pathum United 2022 King's Cup
MF Picha Autra (1996-01-07) 7 January 1996 (age 27) 5 0 Thailand Muangthong United 2022 King's Cup
MF Tanaboon Kesarat (1993-09-21) 21 September 1993 (age 30) 55 1 Thailand Port v.  Uzbekistan, 14 June 2022
MF Worachit Kanitsribampen (1997-08-24) 24 August 1997 (age 26) 12 2 Thailand BG Pathum United v.  Uzbekistan, 14 June 2022
MF Pakorn Prempak (1993-02-02) 2 February 1993 (age 30) 9 0 Thailand Port v.  Uzbekistan, 14 June 2022
MF Chaowat Veerachat (1996-06-23) 23 June 1996 (age 27) 5 1 Thailand BG Pathum United v.  Uzbekistan, 14 June 2022
MF Wisarut Imura (1997-10-18) 18 October 1997 (age 26) 2 0 Thailand Bangkok United v.  Bahrain, 31 May 2022 INJ
MF Lursan Thiamrat (1991-09-18) 18 September 1991 (age 32) 1 0 Thailand Nongbua Pitchaya v.  Suriname, 27 March 2022

FW Teerasak Poeiphimai (2002-09-21) 21 September 2002 (age 21) 2 0 Thailand Port v.  Chinese Taipei, 14 December 2022
FW Supachai Chaided (1998-12-01) 1 December 1998 (age 25) 27 5 Thailand Buriram United 2022 King's Cup
FW Suphanat Mueanta (2002-08-02) 2 August 2002 (age 21) 10 3 Thailand Buriram United 2022 King's Cup
FW Chayawat Srinawong (1993-01-12) 12 January 1993 (age 30) 4 0 Thailand Bangkok United v.  Uzbekistan, 14 June 2022

INJ Withdrew from the squad due to injury
PRE Included in the Preliminary squad or on standby
RET Retired from the national team
SUS Serving suspension from the national team
WD Withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue

Previous squads

  • Summer Olympics squads: 1956, 1968
  • AFC Asian Cup squads: 1972, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2019
  • Asian Games squads: 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998
  • AFF Championship squads: 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020

Players record

Players in bold are still active with Thailand.

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup finals Qualification
Year Result Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Uruguay 1930 Withdrew Qualified as invitees
Italy 1934 to Mexico 1970 Did not enter Did not enter
West Germany 1974 Did not qualify 4 0 0 4 0 13
Argentina 1978 4 1 0 3 8 12
Spain 1982 3 0 1 2 3 13
Mexico 1986 6 1 2 3 4 4
Italy 1990 6 1 0 5 2 14
United States 1994 8 4 0 4 13 7
France 1998 4 1 1 2 5 6
South KoreaJapan 2002 14 5 5 4 25 20
West Germany 2006 6 2 1 3 9 10
South Africa 2010 10 3 2 5 20 17
Brazil 2014 8 2 2 4 7 10
Russia 2018 16 4 4 8 20 30
Qatar 2022 8 2 3 3 9 9
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined To be determined
Total 0/22 97 26 21 50 125 165

Olympic Games

Olympic Games Qualification
Year Result Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
France 1900 to Finland 1952 Did not enter Did not enter
Australia 1956 First round 11th 1 0 0 1 0 9 Bye
Italy 1960 First round qualification 2 0 0 2 2 6
Japan 1964 Second round qualification 4 2 0 2 4 10
Mexico 1968 Group stage 16th 3 0 0 3 1 19 4 3 0 1 5 6
West Germany 1972 Final round qualification 6 1 2 3 5 12
Canada 1976 and Soviet Union 1980 Did not enter Did not enter
United States 1984 Second round qualification 10 5 2 3 13 8
South Korea 1988 8 3 2 3 8 7
Total First round 11th 4 0 0 4 1 28 33 14 6 14 37 49

AFC Asian Cup

AFC Asian Cup Qualification
Year Result Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D* L GF GA
Hong Kong 1956 Withdrew Withdrew
South Korea 1960
Israel 1964 Did not qualify 3 0 1 2 4 9
Iran 1968 4 2 0 2 5 4
Thailand 1972 Third place 3rd 5 0 3 2 6 9 5 3 1 1 16 4
Iran 1976 Withdrew after qualifying 4 3 0 1 8 2
Kuwait 1980 Did not qualify 6 4 0 2 13 4
Singapore 1984 5 3 0 2 9 10
Qatar 1988 5 1 2 2 5 12
Japan 1992 Group stage 7th 3 0 2 1 1 5 2 2 0 0 3 1
United Arab Emirates 1996 Group stage 12th 3 0 0 3 2 13 6 4 2 0 31 5
Lebanon 2000 Group stage 9th 3 0 2 1 2 4 6 4 1 1 13 8
People's Republic of China 2004 Group stage 16th 3 0 0 3 1 9 6 3 0 3 10 7
Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Vietnam 2007 Group stage 10th 3 1 1 1 3 5 Qualified as co-hosts
Qatar 2011 Did not qualify 6 1 3 2 3 3
Australia 2015 6 0 0 6 7 21
United Arab Emirates 2019 Round of 16 14th 4 1 1 2 4 7 6 4 2 0 14 6
Qatar 2023 Qualified 11 4 3 4 14 11
Saudi Arabia 2027 To be determined To be determined
Total Third place 3rd 24 2 9 13 19 52 79 36 15 28 150 107

Asian Games

AFF Championship

Southeast Asian Games

Head-to-head record

As of 2 January  2023 (2023 -01-02)

Thailand national football team head-to-head records
Against First Last Pld W D L GF GA GD Confederation
 Afghanistan 2015 2015 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 AFC
 Australia 1982 2017 7 0 1 6 4 17 −13 AFC
 Bahrain 1980 2022 9 2 4 3 9 11 −2 AFC
 Bangladesh 1973 2012 14 9 3 2 29 11 +18 AFC
 Belarus 2017 2017 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 UEFA
 Bhutan 2012 2012 1 1 0 0 5 0 +5 AFC
 Brazil 2000 2000 1 0 0 1 0 7 −7 CONMEBOL
 Brunei 1971 2022 8 7 1 0 38 5 +33 AFC
 Bulgaria 1968 1996 2 0 0 2 0 13 −13 UEFA
 Cambodia 1957 2023 16 9 5 2 39 18 +21 AFC
 Cameroon 2015 2015 1 0 0 1 2 3 −1 CAF
 China PR 1975 2019 28 5 5 18 24 61 −37 AFC
 Chinese Taipei 1963 2022 10 4 1 5 16 17 –1 AFC
 Congo 2019 2019 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 CAF
 Czech Republic 1968 1968 1 0 0 1 0 8 −8 UEFA
 Denmark 2009 2010 2 0 1 1 2 5 −3 UEFA
 Egypt 1998 1998 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 CAF
 Estonia 2000 2004 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 UEFA
 Finland 1996 2000 4 3 1 0 11 3 +8 UEFA
 Gabon 2018 2018 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 CAF
 Germany 2004 2004 1 0 0 1 1 5 −4 UEFA
 Ghana 1982 1983 2 0 0 2 2 6 −4 CAF
 Guatemala 1968 1968 1 0 0 1 1 4 −3 CONCACAF
 Hong Kong 1961 2018 26 9 6 11 39 33 +6 AFC
 India 1962 2019 23 11 6 6 37 26 +11 AFC
 Indonesia 1957 2022 72 34 20 18 128 85 +43 AFC
 Iran 1972 2013 14 0 3 11 5 32 −27 AFC
 Iraq 1972 2017 17 2 5 10 18 45 −27 AFC
 Israel 1973 1973 1 0 0 1 0 6 −6 UEFA
 Japan 1962 2017 29 3 6 20 25 71 −46 AFC
 Jordan 2004 2016 7 1 5 1 4 3 +1 AFC
 Kazakhstan 1998 2006 4 2 2 0 5 3 +2 UEFA
 Kenya 1990 2017 2 2 0 0 3 1 +2 CAF
 Kuwait 1972 2014 12 4 1 7 18 30 −12 AFC
 Kyrgyzstan 2001 2001 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2 AFC
 Laos 1961 2010 14 12 1 1 50 15 +35 AFC
 Latvia 2005 2005 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 UEFA
 Lebanon 1998 2014 7 3 2 2 12 15 −3 AFC
 Liberia 1984 1984 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1 CAF
 Libya 1977 1977 1 0 1 0 2 2 0 CAF
 Liechtenstein 1981 1981 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 UEFA
 Luxembourg 1980 1980 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 UEFA
 Macau 2007 2007 2 2 0 0 13 2 +11 AFC
 Malaysia 1959 2022 113 33 38 42 151 162 −11 AFC
 Maldives 1996 2022 4 4 0 0 22 0 +22 AFC
 Malta 1981 1981 1 0 0 1 0 2 −2 UEFA
 Morocco 1980 1980 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1 CAF
 Myanmar 1957 2022 50 22 14 14 99 62 +37 AFC
   Nepal 1982 2022 4 4 0 0 14 1 +13 AFC
 Netherlands 2007 2007 1 0 0 1 1 3 −2 UEFA
 New Zealand 1976 2014 5 2 2 1 9 7 +2 OFC
 Nigeria 1983 1983 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 CAF
 Northern Ireland 1997 1997 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 UEFA
 Korea DPR 1978 2017 20 5 4 11 18 32 −14 AFC
 Norway 1965 2012 2 0 0 2 0 8 −8 UEFA
 Oman 1986 2021 12 5 1 6 11 10 1 AFC
 Pakistan 1960 2001 5 4 0 1 16 7 +9 AFC
 [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]] 2011 2011 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 AFC
 Papua New Guinea 1984 1984 1 0 0 1 1 4 −3 OFC
 Philippines 1971 2022 23 19 2 2 71 11 +60 AFC
 Poland 2010 2010 1 0 0 1 1 3 −2 UEFA
 Qatar 1992 2016 11 4 3 4 15 15 0 AFC
 Saudi Arabia 1982 2017 16 1 1 14 9 42 −33 AFC
 Singapore 1957 2021 63 34 17 12 109 62 +47 AFC
 Slovakia 2004 2018 2 0 1 1 3 4 –1 UEFA
 South Africa 2010 2010 1 0 0 1 0 4 −4 CAF
 Korea Republic 1961 2016 61 8 12 41 43 120 −77 AFC
 South Vietnam 1956 1975 27 4 3 20 27 58 −31 AFC
 Sri Lanka 1979 2022 6 6 0 0 17 2 +15 AFC
 Suriname 2022 2022 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 CONCACAF
 Sweden 1962 2003 5 0 1 4 4 13 −9 UEFA
 Syria 1978 2016 5 3 2 0 12 7 +5 AFC
 Tajikistan 2003 2021 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 AFC
 Timor-Leste 2004 2021 3 3 0 0 17 0 +17 AFC
 Trinidad and Tobago 2003 2022 3 3 0 0 6 3 +3 CONCACAF
 Turkey 1980 1980 1 0 0 1 0 2 –2 UEFA
 Turkmenistan 1998 2022 2 1 1 0 4 3 +1 AFC
 United Arab Emirates 1986 2021 12 2 3 7 12 19 −7 AFC
 United States 1987 1987 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 CONCACAF
 Uruguay 2019 2019 1 0 0 1 0 4 −4 CONMEBOL
 Uzbekistan 1994 2022 9 5 0 4 18 17 +1 AFC
 Vietnam 1995 2021 26 16 7 3 46 17 +29 AFC
 Yemen 1988 2007 6 2 4 0 9 5 +4 AFC
82 Countries 1948 2023 824 308 197 319 1264 1209 +55 All
Last match updated was against  Cambodia Cambodia on 2 January 2023.
Thailand FIFA opponent map
Thailand national football team all-time opponents highlighted in green.

Honours

Continental titles

  • AFC Asian Cup
    • Third place (1): 1972
  • Asian Games
    • Fourth place (3): 1990, 1998, 2014

Regional titles

  • AFF Championship
    • Simple cup icon.svg Champions (6): 1996, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2020
    • Runners-up (3): 2007, 2008, 2012
  • Southeast Asian Games
    • Gold medal (9): 1965*, 1975, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999
    • Silver medal (4): 1959, 1969, 1977, 1991
    • Bronze medal (5): 1961, 1967, 1971, 1979, 1987

Friendly titles

  • King's Cup
    • Winners (15): 1976*, 1979, 1980*, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2016, 2017
    • Runners-up (11): 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2015, 2018
    • Third place (12): 1968, 1973, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2013*, 2022
  • China Cup
    • Runners-up (1): 2019
  • Indonesian Independence Cup
    • Winners (1): 1994
  • Korea Cup
    • Third place (1): 1977*
    • Fourth place (1): 1980
  • VFF Vietnam International Friendly Cup
    • Winners (2): 2006, 2008
  • Nehru Cup
    • Third place (1): 1995
  • 3 Nations in Taiwan
    • Winners (1): 1971
  • 4 Nations in Indochina
    • Winners (1): 1989
  • Brunei Games
    • Winners (1): 1990
Note
*trophy shared

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Tailandia para niños

  • Thailand women's national football team
  • Thailand national futsal team
  • Thailand national under-23 football team
  • Thailand national under-21 football team
  • Thailand national under-20 football team
  • Thailand national under-17 football team
  • King's Cup
  • Football in Thailand
  • Sport in Thailand
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