Failing at the U23 Asian Championship, Thailand's U23 team aims for strong results at the ASIAD

The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) convened a session to summarize the U23 team’s recent competitions and strategize for the men's football event at the 2026 ASIAD in Japan.

The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) recently organized an important meeting to evaluate the national U23 team’s recent matches and to develop a preparation plan for the upcoming men's football competition at the 20th Asian Games (ASIAD 20). The ASIAD will be held in Nagoya and Aichi (Japan) from September 19 to October 4, regarded as a crucial platform for Thailand’s youth football in 2026.

The meeting was chaired by Dr. Charnwit Phongchiwin – Vice President of FAT, attended by U23 head coach Thawatchai Damrong-ongtrakul, the coaching staff, and technical departments of the association. This session served as a comprehensive review and strategic planning to assess all tournaments the U23 team has participated in recently.

The main focus of the meeting was to assess recent results, especially the underwhelming campaign at the 2026 U23 Asian Championship. Thailand’s U23 team earned only 2 points from 3 group matches, finishing last in Group D and exiting early. Previously, the young Golden Warriors also faced challenges at major tournaments like the U23 Southeast Asian Championship and the 33rd SEA Games.

Besides reviewing technical aspects, FAT also discussed detailed plans to prepare the squad for the ASIAD. The association will closely cooperate with domestic clubs to secure the best players for the team, while assigning the coaching staff to monitor and evaluate the form of both established and new players. The call-up, quarantine, and training schedules during FIFA Days, especially in March, were also carefully considered.

Notably, FAT decided to extend the contract of coach Thawatchai Damrong-ongtrakul despite the disappointing results. After the previous contract ended, there were calls for a coaching change, but FAT’s technical subcommittee chose to continue trusting this strategist.

According to Thai media, coach Thawatchai will lead the national U23 team for about another nine months, targeting the ASIAD in Japan. FAT believes that changing the coach at this stage carries risks due to limited preparation time, and the ASIAD will be the final opportunity for both the U23 team and the head coach to regain fans’ confidence.