Thailand Opens World Masters Football Championship Against Defending Champion England
Thailand kicks off the 18th World Masters Football Championship on June 1 against defending champion England in Ubon Ratchathani, with eight nations competing across two groups.
Officials from the Thai Masters Football Association and Chulalongkorn University Alumni Association announced that Iran's withdrawal from the 18th World Masters Football Championship (June 1-6 in Ubon Ratchathani) led to Laos being invited as a replacement, maintaining eight participating nations.
The draw results are as follows: Group A comprises England (defending champions), Thailand, Taiwan, and the United States, while Group B includes Australia, New Zealand, Laos, and France.
The opening match on June 1 at 5:00 PM will see Thailand, ranked fifth in the previous edition, face England. The second match at 7:00 PM will pit the United States against Taiwan at Ubon Ratchathani Sports School Stadium.
The tournament schedule includes two matches daily, with each match lasting 80 minutes (40 minutes per half). Players aged 40, 45, and 50 will be mixed within teams according to regulations. June 4 will feature a youth football coaching clinic instead of matches. Semifinals are scheduled for June 5, with the final on June 6.
Beyond Ubon Ratchathani Sports School Stadium, matches will also be held at Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Administration Organization Sports Stadium and Ubon Ratchathani Municipality Sports Stadium.
