The Thai football team refuses to travel to Cambodia to compete in the Southeast Asian Championship

True Bangkok Club has refused to travel to Cambodia to participate in the Shopee Cup match because of safety reasons.

On the morning of December 15, True Bangkok United sent a letter to the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), informing them that they could not travel to Cambodia to play against Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng in the group stage of the Shopee Cup 2025/26, scheduled for January 29, 2026.

According to reports, this decision was made based on an internal assessment of the hosting conditions and the level of security assurance for the team during travel and competition. The club believes that at this time, the relevant factors do not fully meet the requirements for the team to confidently participate in the away match.

In the letter to AFF, Bangkok United requested the organizers to reconsider the venue, emphasizing that the safety of players, coaching staff, and accompanying members must be the top priority. The club affirmed that this decision is made responsibly and is not based on professional or tactical reasons.

AFF and related parties are considering several options, including the possibility of holding the match at a neutral venue. According to Asean Football, the match might be relocated to a neutral location such as Vietnam or Laos. However, under current regulations, the home team Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng would incur additional costs if the venue changes, making negotiations and agreement difficult.

According to related sources, Bangkok United’s stance remains unchanged. The club stated it will not participate in the match if it must be played in Cambodia, even if it means accepting penalties under the tournament rules such as disciplinary actions or forfeiture.

Previously, on December 10, the Cambodian Sports Delegation also withdrew all athletes from SEA Games 33 because Thailand was hosting, citing similar reasons.