Thailand Selects 20 Student Athletes for World School Football Championship in China
Thailand has selected 20 student athletes from over 900 applicants through rigorous testing to represent the country at the World School Football Championship in China, following a three-round selection process that included sports science
The Physical Education Department under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports has advanced its selection of young Thai footballers for international competition, narrowing down more than 900 nationwide applicants through intensive testing covering both technical skills and sports science to a final 20 athletes. These selected players will now enter a 30-day concentrated training program to prepare for the World School Football Championship in China.
Mongkol Wimolrat, Director-General of the Physical Education Department, explained that the department prioritizes giving promising school-level athletes the opportunity to learn and gain experience through the selection and training process, aiming to raise their competitive abilities to international standards. The department's focus when sending athletes to compete abroad is to build opportunities and experience for capable athletes rather than pursuing excellence as the sole objective.
The selection process has been rigorous and conducted to standard, with over 900 young athletes from across the country applying. In the first round held August 17-19, 2025, at the Commemoration Stadium for the 60th Anniversary in Pathum Thani Province, the field was narrowed to 162 athletes. The second round on August 27, 2025, included athletes with outstanding records from the Physical Education Department's school football competitions in the under-18 age group, reducing the pool to 40 finalists.
In the third selection round on August 28, 2025, the department employed sports science to comprehensively evaluate physical performance and body readiness. This included Functional Movement Screen testing to assess basic movement patterns and Isokinetic testing to evaluate muscle completeness, strength, and balance. These assessments informed the final selection of the top 20 athletes.
The 20 selected athletes will now enter a 30-day intensive training and conditioning program to develop their football skills, physical fitness, tactical understanding, and mental preparedness before representing Thai students at the World School Football Championship in China. Beyond demonstrating athletic prowess, the Physical Education Department also aims for Thai students to promote Thai identity and culture as soft power on the international stage.
