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Thailand midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin after the 0-0 draw against Vietnam in the second leg of the 2021 AFF Cup semifinal on Dec. 26, 2021. Photo by ThailandNT |
Songkrasin is eager for redemption against Vietnam following Thailand’s loss in the 2026 ASEAN Cup final last month. Although the 33-year-old did not play in that tournament, he made headlines with a pre-match speech urging his teammates not to fear Vietnam. He stated that Vietnam are not as good as they think they are and challenged his teammates to prove their worth on the pitch.
Born in 1993, Songkrasin is 1.63 m tall and compensates for his smaller stature with excellent technical skills and sharp vision. Nicknamed the “Thai Messi,” Songkrasin is widely regarded as the greatest attacking midfielder in Thai football history.
He holds a complete set of Southeast Asian honors, including the U19 AFF Cup, two SEA Games gold medals and three ASEAN Cup titles, scoring 15 goals in 77 appearances for the national team.
During the peak of his career, Songkrasin spent seven years playing in Japan, earning a spot in the J1 League Best XI. He joined Kawasaki Frontale in early 2022 for $3.8 million, a record transfer fee between Japanese clubs at that time.
At the moment, he is playing for BG Pathum United in Thai League 1.
Meanwhile, 35-year-old veteran defender Theerathon Bunmathan was left out of the squad because his form and fitness failed to convince head coach Anthony Hudson. Bunmathan has frequently been the center of controversy during matches against Vietnam due to his physical style of play and gamesmanship.
At his prime, Bunmathan is considered Southeast Asia’s finest full-back, notably becoming the first player from the region to win the J1 League title in 2019. He played in the J1 League for Vissel Kobe in 2018 and Yokohama F. Marinos from 2019 to 2021, making 129 appearances and scoring four goals. He became the first Southeast Asian player to win the J1 League title in 2019.
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Theerathon Bunmathan (number 3) during Thailand’s 1-0 victory over Vietnam in the second leg of the 2022 AFF Cup final, at Thammasat Stadium, Thailand, on Jan. 16, 2023. Photo by Read/Lam Thoa |
Coach Hudson stated that the current 23-man roster have included the best available selections for Thailand. The team keep only nine players who participated in the 2026 ASEAN Cup.
forward Suphanat Mueanta and midfielder Thanawat Suengchitthawon will also be absent due to injury.
The squad feature three foreign-based players — SV Elversberg full-back Nicholas Mickelson, who recently became the first Thai player to appear in Germany’s Bundesliga, and Japanese club Consadole Sapporo duo Supachok Sarachat and Teerapat Pruetong.
Another notable inclusion is English-Thai forward Jude Soonsup-Bell. The Chelsea and Tottenham youth product returned to Thailand to join Port FC this summer after stints in the lower divisions of Spain and England.
Thailand will face Pakistan on Sept. 26, Vietnam on the 29th, and the Philippines on Oct. 2 in Group B of Division 1 in the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup. The team aim to top the group and reach the final.
The tournament features a round-robin format where division group winners advance directly to the final, while the Division 1 runners-up compete in a third-place playoff.