Coach Wang Undecided on Using Overage Players for Thailand's 2026 Asian Games Football Campaign in Japan
Thailand's U-23 football coach is still deciding whether to use overage quota players for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, with key warm-up matches against South Korea and the UAE scheduled for June ahead of the September competition.
Thawatchai Damrongtaksolkul, head coach of Thailand's U-23 national football team, is still undecided about using overage quota players for the 2026 Asian Games football tournament. The Thai U-23 squad has announced 26 players to prepare for two warm-up matches in June: facing South Korea on June 6 at 6 p.m. at True BG Stadium, followed by a closed-door match against the United Arab Emirates on June 9. Both matches serve as final preparations before competing in the 2026 Asian Games football championship in Japan from September 19 to October 4. Coach Wang revealed that while candidate lists for overage players already exist, a final decision on their inclusion remains pending. The timing is complicated by the Thai League 2026-27 season kicking off during the Asian Games period, along with FIFA international windows in September and October when the senior national team will compete in the AFF Suzuki Cup 2026 and FIFA Asian Cup qualifiers, requiring further deliberation. The upcoming training camp is expected to be the final preparation before the Asian Games, aimed at selecting the most ready players from the various sessions conducted over the past year of team-building. Players called up for the senior national team will have replacements brought in to provide additional selection options. The warm-up matches against South Korea and the UAE will provide valuable insights into the capabilities of all 26 players invited to camp.
