The Thailand national football team, under the guidance of head coach Masatada Ishii, embarked on their journey to China on Sunday (June 2), with a clear objective of securing vital victories in the Group C matches of the Asian zone qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Their campaign kicks off with a significant encounter against China in Shenyang on June 6, followed by a match against Singapore on June 11 at Bangkok’s Rajamangala National Stadium.
Thailand currently holds the third position in the group standings, accumulating four points, trailing behind China with seven points and group leader South Korea with ten points. Singapore occupies the bottom spot with merely one point. To progress to the subsequent qualifying stage, Thailand must clinch victories in both of their remaining matches, as only the top two teams from each of the nine groups will advance.
Ishii has expressed confidence in the team’s level of preparedness, highlighting their adaptive approach to counter any changes in the coaching and playing style of the Chinese team since their previous encounter.
Veteran striker Teerasil Dangda has also conveyed the personal significance of the upcoming matches, suggesting that these could mark his final appearances in World Cup qualifying matches due to his advancing age as he nears the conclusion of his international career.
The forthcoming match against China will be broadcasted live on Thairath TV (Channel 32) at 7 p.m. this Thursday.