Aichi prefecture: Yotsakorn Burapha and Thanawut Phochai have officially joined the Thai men's national football team as they prepare for their opening match against Kyrgyzstan in the 2026 Asian Games. Under the guidance of head coach "Coach Wang" Thawatchai Damrong-ongtrakul, the team conducted a training session at Okazaki City Ryuhoku Stadium in Japan, focusing on honing tactics and techniques for the upcoming game.
According to Thai News Agency, the training session was attended by students from Tokiwa Elementary School, who came to support and cheer for the Thai players. Both Yotsakorn from Chonburi FC and Thanawut from SC Sagamihara participated in the training and are ready to contribute to the team's efforts. Yotsakorn expressed his readiness, stating his physical condition has improved and he is eager to help the team secure a victory against Kyrgyzstan.
Coach Wang emphasized the significance of the Asian Games, highlighting it as a major sporting event in Asia. Leading the team is an honor, and the goal is to advance as far as possible in the tournament. With Japan, the host nation, in the same group, it presents an opportunity to compete against top Asian teams. Despite acknowledging Kyrgyzstan as a formidable opponent, Coach Wang remains confident in the team's preparation and abilities, believing they will deliver a strong performance.
The Thai national team is placed in Group A alongside Japan, Kyrgyzstan, and Hong Kong. They will face Kyrgyzstan in their first match at Toyota Stadium, with the game scheduled to kick off at 2:00 PM Thai time.