Playing in Group C of the FIFA World Cup 26™ / AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Preliminary Joint Qualification, Thailand National Team lost their first match at home to China PR on 16 November, going down 1-2 after scoring the opening goal. In their second match on 21 November, they won 3-1 away to Singapore. With one win and one defeat so far, they are level on points with China PR but have a better goal difference and are second only to Korea Republic, who have won two in a row. The team's first World Cup appearance will come at a critical juncture, when they face Korea Republic home and away in March 2024.

The day after the Singapore game, however, it was announced that Brazilian coach Alexandre POLKING would be stepping down and Japanese coach ISHII Masatada has been named as his successor. As a player, he played for Kashima Antlers, and as a manager, he led Kashima to both the J.League and Emperor's Cup titles in the 2016 season. He also led Thailand's Buriram United to back-to-back triple crown titles by winning the Thai League 1, Thai FA Cup and Thai League Cup in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.

At the press conference on 7 December, SAMURAI BLUE (Japan) head coach MORIYASU Hajime said of the match against Thailand: “I think they will play to nullify our strengths and it will be a very difficult game.” With the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ kicking off on 12 January, both sides will be looking to build their momentum from this match.

Despite the change of coach, Thailand remain one of the strongest nations in Southeast Asia, where football is extremely popular. They won the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Championship for the seventh time in a row, beating Vietnam in the home-and-away final in January 2023. The technical ability of Thai players is well known, with Chanathip SONGKRASIN and Theerathon BUNMATHAN both having played in the J.League.

Thailand and SAMURAI BLUE last met in March 2017 in the final round of the AFC qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ (Road to Russia). In the match held at Saitama Stadium 2002, Thailand, who boasted the likes of Chanathip and Teerasil Dangda, outshot Japan 14-12 but were beaten 4-0 by goals from Kagawa Shinji, Okazaki Shinji, Kubo Yuya and Yoshida Maya.

Thailand National Team

Head Coach

ISHII Masatada (Japan)

Squad

GK
 1   SIWARAK TEDSUNGNOEN (Buriram United FC)
23  PATIWAT KHAMMAI (Bangkok United FC)

DF
 3   THEERATHON BUNMATHAN (Buriram United FC)
 4   YUSEF ELIAS DOLAH (Bali United FC/Indonesia)
15  JAKKAPAN PRAISUWAN (BG Pathum United FC)
 2   SUPHAN THONGSONG (Bangkok United FC)
21  SUPHANAN BUREERAT (Port FC)
20  SANTIPHARP CHANNGOM (BG Pathum United FC)
 5   KRITSADA KAMAN (Chonburi FC)
12  LOOK SAA NICHOLAS KENGKHETKID MICKELSON (Odense BK/Denmark)

MF
14  RUNGRAT PHUMICHANTUK (Bangkok United FC)
 6   SARACH YOOYEN (BG Pathum United FC)
19  PATHOMPON CHAROENRATTANAPIROM (Port FC)
11  BORDIN PHALA (Port FC)
16  PHITIWAT SOOKJITTHAMMAKUL (BG Pathum United FC)
18  PICHA AUTRA (Muangthong United FC)
22  WEERATHEP POMPHUN (Muangthong United FC)
13  JAROENSAK WONGGORN (Muangthong United FC)
10  WORACHIT KANITSRIBUMPHEN (Port FC)
 7   SUPACHOK SARACHAT (Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo/Japan)
 8   EKANIT PANYA (Urawa Red Diamonds/Japan)

FW
 9   TEERASAK POEIPHIMAI (Port FC)
17  YOTSAKON BURAPA (Chonburi FC)

Results of last 10 matches
(H: Home, A: Away, N: Neutral ground, ○: Win, △: Draw, ●: Loss)

Record against Japan

2 wins, 4 draws, 16 losses (17 goals, 52 against)

Results at the FIFA World Cup™

Appearances: None

1930　Did not participate
1934　Did not participate
1938　Did not participate
1950　Did not participate
1954　Did not participate
1958　Did not participate
1962　Did not participate
1966　Did not participate
1970　Did not participate
1974　Eliminated in the qualifier
1978　Eliminated in the qualifier
1982　Eliminated in the qualifier
1986　Eliminated in the qualifier
1990　Eliminated in the qualifier
1994　Eliminated in the qualifier
1998　Eliminated in the qualifier
2002　Eliminated in the qualifier
2006　Eliminated in the qualifier
2010　Eliminated in the qualifier
2014　Eliminated in the qualifier
2018　Eliminated in the qualifier
2022　Eliminated in the qualifier

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