Liverpool Legends Hyypiä and Dowie Lead Bangkok Running Event
Liverpool FC legends Sami Hyypiä and Natasha Dowie joined 10,000 fans at KOP RUN Bangkok 2026 in a 10-kilometer and 5-kilometer race held at Suphachalasai Stadium, marking the iconic event's return after seven years.
KOP RUN Bangkok 2026 drew thousands of Liverpool FC fans to Suphachalasai Stadium in Bangkok on Sunday, September 13, as the iconic running event returned after a seven-year hiatus. Organized by Krungthai-AXA Life Insurance and Run Rio Thailand, the event welcomed 10,000 runners split between a 10-kilometer race (7,000 participants) and a 5-kilometer run (3,000 participants), with a Fan Festival Area recreating the atmosphere of Anfield. Supporters wore red and white throughout the stadium, creating a vibrant celebration of community, football, and fitness.
Coach Tatsana Kanyanakit, a former Thai national team goalkeeper, claimed overall victory in the 10K race with a time of 36 minutes and 27 seconds, ahead of Thai marathon runner Base Sasatra Pongcharoenvet (37:24) and Australian runner Charlie Hunter (38:02). The 5K race became a memorable highlight when two Liverpool FC legends took to the course alongside Thai supporters: Sami Hyypiä, the Finnish defender and former Reds captain who served the club for 10 years (1999–2009) and was instrumental in their historic 2005 UEFA Champions League triumph at Istanbul, and Natasha Dowie, Liverpool FC Women's ambassador and the club's all-time leading goalscorer with 47 goals. Dowie made history in 2025 as the first woman to play in Liverpool FC Legends' annual match at Anfield.
The event was presented by Krungthai-AXA Life Insurance and supported by partners including Japan Airlines, Standard Chartered, EA SPORTS, UPS, EC Markets, and Haier. For Thai Liverpool supporters, the sight of Hyypiä and Dowie running alongside them transformed the 5K into far more than a race—it became an opportunity to connect with the club's legend and create lasting memories.
