Thai media aims to reclaim Southeast Asia’s top football title from Vietnam

As reported by Siam Sport, the journey for the “War Elephants” to win the AFF Cup 2026 was clearly defined from the start, targeting nothing less than overthrowing the reigning champions Vietnam.

“The Thailand national team, led by English coach Anthony Hudson, is eagerly awaiting the group stage draw to map out their path to the championship, with the primary goal of reclaiming the number one position in Southeast Asian football,”Siam Sport commented.

Thailand currently holds the record as the most successful team in AFF Cup history with seven titles, surpassing the combined total of Singapore (4) and Vietnam (3). However, in the 2024 AFF Cup, the “War Elephants” suffered a bitter defeat, losing both legs of the final to Vietnam with an aggregate score of 2-3.

After this shock, the Football Association of Thailand undertook a major restructuring. Coach Masatada Ishii was dismissed and replaced by English strategist Anthony Hudson. Simultaneously, there was a focus on rejuvenating the squad and opening doors for Thai-origin players competing abroad, while many veteran key players gradually stepped back.

At the 33rd SEA Games held in Thailand, Vietnam continued to be a nightmare for the hosts as coach Kim Sang-sik’s team once again defeated Thailand with a 3-2 score at Rajamangala Stadium. Therefore, beating Vietnam has almost become the ultimate goal for Thai football at present.

The group stage draw for the AFF Cup 2026 will take place on January 15 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Unlike the usual year-end schedule, this tournament has been moved to summer, running from July 24 to August 26, 2026.

The Vietnam national team will be seeded in Pot 1 as the most recent AFF Cup champions,while Thailand is placed in Pot 2.

According to the fixture released by the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), the group stage will be conducted in a single round-robin format from July 24 to August 8. The knockout rounds, including the semifinals and the two-legged final, will be held between August 15 and August 26.