After a comprehensive defeat to Vietnam, Thai football has taken an unexpected step

The complete loss in all four disciplines—men's football, women's football, men's futsal, and women's futsal—at home is regarded as the greatest upset for Thai football in recent years.

Heavy defeat at SEA Games 33 has forced Thai football to face reality directly and make pivotal decisions.

On December 26, 2025, the Football Association of Thailand, chaired by Madam Pang Nualphan Lamsam, held an emergency Executive Committee meeting. One of the most critical decisions made was to prepare for a comprehensive restructuring of the technical department to fundamentally address the lingering issues after the SEA Games.

According to internal assessments, the failure at SEA Games 33 was not merely due to performance or luck but highlighted systemic weaknesses in training, squad preparation, and long-term development strategies. Therefore, the Football Association of Thailand has identified technical reform as the top priority moving forward.

Notably, the association has assigned Anthony Hudson, head coach of the Thai national team, to be directly involved in selecting the new Technical Director. This is seen as a strategic move since Hudson has previous experience in this role and understands the high-level professional requirements.

The upcoming Technical Director position is expected to play a central role in building a sustainable development foundation for Thai football, especially at the youth level. Key responsibilities include match data analysis, advanced statistics, scientific player evaluation, and applying modern sports science achievements to training.

Beyond the national team level, the new Technical Director is also required to closely coordinate with coaches at all levels, from men's to women's football, to unify playing philosophy, training programs, and player development pathways. This was something Thai football excelled at during its golden era but has been disrupted in recent years.

Additionally, the early appointment of the U20 men's team head coach is part of the overall reform plan. The immediate goal is to prepare for the 2026 Southeast Asian U19 Championship and the 2026 AFC U20 qualifiers, gradually restoring the status of Thai youth football regionally and continentally.

This reform demonstrates that Thai football has truly hit rock bottom in expectations and no longer tolerates stagnation. In the increasingly competitive Southeast Asian football landscape, these strong moves by Thailand will undoubtedly put significant pressure on regional rivals, including Vietnam.