The Thailand U17 national football team faced Qatar U17 in a friendly match on March 25, 2025, which ended in a disappointing 2-0 loss. The match, held at Ahmad bin Khalifa Stadium, kicked off at 21:00 Thailand time and served as a vital warm-up ahead of the upcoming AFC U17 Asian Cup.
Coached by Jadej Meelap, the Thailand U17 squad aimed to refine their skills and strategies in this pre-tournament encounter. Unfortunately, they were unable to find their rhythm, resulting in a scoreline that fell short of expectations.
Despite the defeat, the team remains focused on their objectives. "Thailand U17 under coach Jadej Meelap lost to Qatar with a score of 2-0," noted analysts, emphasizing the critical learning experiences that come from such matches.
Following this fixture, Thailand U17's next mission includes traveling to Saudi Arabia on March 26, 2025. The journey will prepare them for the prestigious AFC U17 Asian Cup, scheduled from May 3-20, 2025. There, the team will aim to select a final roster of 23 players.
The AFC U17 Asian Cup is especially important as it serves as a platform not only for continental recognition but also for qualifying to the FIFA U17 World Cup, which will be held in Qatar later this year from May 5-27, 2025. The tournament represents both a challenge and an opportunity for the Thailand U17 team.
As the tournament approaches, the players will have a chance to further prepare by playing a closed-door match against Japan U17. This match will help solidify their tactics and cohesion before facing other tough contenders in the Asian Cup.
The Thailand U17 squad has a tough schedule ahead. They will commence their tournament on May 3 against Uzbekistan at 22:00 Thailand time, taking place at Okaz Stadium. This match is pivotal, as a strong performance against Uzbekistan would set a positive tone for their campaign.
Following their opener, Thailand will face the host nation, Saudi Arabia, on May 6 at 00:15 Thailand time, which is early May 7 in Thailand. This match promises to be another significant challenge as they perform in front of home fans for the Saudis.
On May 9, Thailand will wrap up the group stage against China, with the match scheduled once again at 00:15 Thailand time, allowing the team to test their skills against diverse playing styles and strategies that each opponent presents.
Already, the stakes are high as they prepare for the AFC U17 Asian Cup, where only the best teams will emerge to qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup, and with only eight nations gaining entry from Asia, the competition becomes even more intense.
As the Thailand U17 team heads into these matches, their focus will remain not only on the competition itself but on the collective growth and development of young talent for the future of Thai football. The upcoming tournament presents an opportunity to showcase their abilities on an international stage, solidifying their potential as rising stars of the sport.
With determined spirits, Thailand U17 aims to transform lessons learned from their defeat to Qatar into a rallying cry for success in Saudi Arabia. Fans and supporters will undoubtedly be cheering them on, hoping to see them rise to the occasion and make their mark in this critical tournament.
