Hudson Vows to Fight for ASEAN Cup Glory

Anthony Hudson, head coach of Thailand's national men's football team, confirmed that his side will not underestimate any opponent in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, but is determined to bring the championship home to Thailand. Speaking at a press conference on September 25 at Sri Jalak Haruphat Stadium in Bandung, Indonesia, ahead of the tournament running from September 26 to October 5, Hudson expressed optimism about his team's preparation and mindset. Thailand is grouped with Vietnam, the Philippines, and Pakistan in Group B, where all teams will play each other once to determine the group winner, who advances to the final, while the runner-up faces the third-place finisher from the other group. Hudson stated he is confident in the team and emphasized the importance of focusing on their opening match tomorrow. He praised the squad's quality and clear objectives, while acknowledging that strong teams are competing in the tournament. Hudson expressed particular respect for Vietnam and its coach, noting their excellent performance, strong squad, and efficient playing style. He highlighted that Vietnam's main strength lies in their team system, discipline, clear tactical approach, and rapid game transitions, rather than focusing on individual players. Hudson also acknowledged that both teams face player absences due to injury, with Thailand missing key players like Jonganan Khemdit, who he considers an important player. Despite these challenges, Hudson believes Vietnam remains one of the tournament favorites, though he noted that Thailand and Vietnam have played well against each other in recent matches. Hudson concluded by expressing confidence in his squad as one of Thailand's strongest available line-ups and looking forward to a competitive match against Vietnam.