Thai football is entering an exciting phase as the country prepares to host the AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifying tournament, marking a significant step for women's football and the overall sporting scene. The announcement from Madam Pang Nualphan Lamsam, president of the Football Association of Thailand, came after confirmation from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) about Thailand's role as one of the host nations for the upcoming event.
This tournament is viewed as the first step toward the grander goal of qualifying for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 under the campaign dubbed "Road to Brazil 2027." The qualifying round features eight countries including Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Jordan, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam, with no team facing each other within the group. A total of 33 nations will participate, split across five groups of four and one group of five teams.
Madam Pang expressed her gratitude to AFC for selecting Thailand as one of the hosts, highlighting, "This selection is incredibly significant as it is the first step toward our World Cup goal. Being hosts provides us with advantages, and we can leverage our strong position as we prepare for the tournament. Our national team will also be seeded first according to our world ranking during the draw on March 27, 2025."
FIFA Day will provide the Thai squad with two more opportunities between now and the qualifiers, reinforcing their commitment to strengthen the team's performance under Coach Ikeda. She expressed optimism about the team's progress and urged Thai football fans to support the Thai women's national team as they gear up for the challenges ahead.
Meanwhile, the world of Thai golf was also abuzz as professional golfer Pajaree Ananratnugteren made headlines after her stellar performance at the HSBC Women's World Championship held at Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore. On February 28, she shot six under par, finishing at four under for two rounds, placing her joint fifth among the competitors.
This prestigious tournament, recognized as Asia's major women's golf event, features elite golfers competing for approximately $2.4 million. Pajaree's remarkable round included six birdies without any bogeys, showcasing her skills on the course. She expressed her satisfaction with her performance and the condition of the course, stating, "I feel pleased to compete here again. The weather is warm, but it hasn't affected my game. I’m trying to keep the momentum going through the next two rounds and approach each shot with care. I believe I can perform well going forward."
Leading the tournament was Kim A-lim from South Korea with a total score of seven under par after rounds of 69 and 68. Argentine golf fans are excited as well, with several players, including Thai representatives, showcasing their talents during this significant sporting event.
Returning to football, Richard McCabe, the chief coach of the Thai national team, has also been proactive as preparations ramp up for the qualifiers. With detailed training schedules, tactical analysis, and competitive matchups planned, the team looks to capitalize on their home advantage and aim high with aspirations of qualifying for the World Cup.
The AFC will announce the draw for the group stage on March 27, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. local time. This event is highly anticipated as it will set the stage for the matches scheduled between June 23 and July 5, 2026, where the top eight teams will advance to the AFC Women's Asian Cup finals being held in Australia from March 1 to March 21, 2026.
The finalists for this year's tournament, including Australia, China, South Korea, and Japan, will also be competing for spots leading to the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027. A total of twelve teams will participate, with six earning the right to compete at the prestigious global event.
Thai football is transforming, firmly establishing itself within the Asian sports arena, and with significant competitions on the horizon for both women’s football and rugby, the nation's athletes are poised to represent their country proudly, making strides toward international recognition and excellence.