Marco Gökçel Leads Thailand U17 National Team to Saudi Arabia for AFC Asian Cup Bid
Thailand's U17 football team departed for Saudi Arabia to compete in the AFC Asian Cup, with coach Marco Gökçel leading 23 players in pursuit of a World Cup qualification berth in Qatar later this year.
Marco Gökçel Leads Thailand U17 National Team to Saudi Arabia for AFC Asian Cup Bid, Eyes World Cup Qualification in Qatar This November
April 30, 2026 – At Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand's U17 boys' football team gathered to prepare for their departure to Saudi Arabia for the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026.
The delegation is led by head coach Marco Gökçel, accompanied by 23 players. Before departure, Gökçel stated: "We will do our best to prepare the team, regardless of the time constraints. We'll manage our time as effectively as possible to be fully ready. Competing in a world youth football tournament is the ultimate dream for every Thai person, including our players. This trip won't be easy because each team has quality. We'll give our all to achieve the best possible result."
"The three teams in our group have strong potential," Gökçel continued. "Teams like Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia have been to the youth world cup before. We can't overlook Myanmar either—they're strong and came through Oman. We've actually had a warm-up match against Oman, and I can say it was no easy game."
"Our team's strength lies in team spirit," Gökçel explained. "I can feel the players working together well. Some players weren't ready at the same time during camp, but what's commendable is how the players are adapting to each other and moving as one unit."
"I believe all teams have similar potential. What might be the deciding factor is footballing ability and the collaboration between coaching staff and players. We've improved every day, and we'll continue to give our best as representatives of the Thai national team."
Thailand is placed in Group A alongside Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Myanmar. The champions and runners-up from all four groups will advance to the knockout round. The top eight nations from this Asian Cup will represent Asia at the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026 in Qatar during November 2026.
Match Schedule:
Matchday 1: May 5-6, 2026, 12:30 AM Thailand time Tajikistan vs Thailand King Abdullah Sports City Stadium B (Champions)
Matchday 2: May 9-10, 2026, 12:00 AM Thailand time Thailand vs Saudi Arabia King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium (Legends)
Matchday 3: May 12-13, 2026, 12:00 AM Thailand time Thailand vs Myanmar King Abdullah Sports City Stadium B (Champions)
All Thailand U17 matches will be streamed live on YouTube: BG Sports.
