Thailand drew 2-2 with Vietnam in the second leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 final at My Dinh Stadium, but lost 4-2 on aggregate to once again miss out on the Southeast Asian title.

After thanking the team and its supporters, Madam Pang - Nualphan Lamsam, president of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) - told Thai media that the result was not entirely disappointing, as the tournament had also helped the War Elephants uncover a new generation of players for the future.

According to the FAT president, Thailand’s squad for the tournament included around 10 U23 players, half of whom were no older than 22.

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Madam Pang rallies Thailand ahead of the FIFA ASEAN Cup. Photo: FAT

Many were experiencing senior international football for the first time. Giving these young players the chance to compete in high-pressure matches, from the group stage through to the final, provided an important opportunity for coach Anthony Hudson to assess their ability and adaptability at international level.

Madam Pang said the biggest positive from the tournament was that Thailand now had more options in its squad. The team was no longer dependent solely on a familiar core of players, but had begun to develop new faces who had been tested in competitive matches.

This is particularly important as club and international schedules increasingly overlap.

Players may be injured, occupied with club commitments or unavailable for tournaments that fall outside FIFA international windows.

Having greater squad depth will therefore help Thailand reduce those risks while creating stronger competition for places.

Vietnam cannot afford complacency

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Vietnam have dominated Thailand in recent years, but cannot afford complacency. Photo: S.N

Even so, defeat in the ASEAN Cup 2026 final left Thailand with lessons to learn.

Under the plan outlined by the 60-year-old billionaire, the War Elephants will look to blend the young players who have recently been given opportunities with the experience of established veterans, building a team with greater quality and resilience.

After successive defeats to Vietnam at the 2024 and 2026 ASEAN Cups, Madam Pang is eager to deliver success during her tenure as FAT president.

She is already moving ahead with Thailand’s next plan: the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 in Indonesia, which begins in just over three weeks.

Thailand have been drawn in Group B alongside Vietnam, Pakistan and the Philippines, while hosts Indonesia are in Group A with Bangladesh, Malaysia and Singapore.

Another meeting with Vietnam, scheduled for September 29, adds further intrigue to Thailand’s group, particularly with the two teams having only recently faced each other in the ASEAN Cup final.

Madam Pang acknowledged the scale of the challenge but remained confident: “We are in the group of death, but we will not fail.”

The message reflects the spirit she wants Thailand to carry into the new tournament.

It also serves as a warning that Vietnam cannot afford to become complacent. Coach Kim Sang Sik must keep his players grounded after their recent run of dominance over Thailand and ensure confidence does not turn into overconfidence.

Once again, Southeast Asian football will turn its attention to the region’s defining rivalry as Vietnam and Thailand meet at the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026.

Ngoc Huy