Thailand national under-23 football team

History

2013–present

2014 Asian Games

The 2014 Asian Games was held in Incheon, South Korea. The Thailand U23 Team under coach Kiatisuk Senamuang built a young-blood team that would later become the main Thailand senior team with players such as Chanathip Songkrasin, Sarach Yooyen, Kawin Thamsatchanan, Charyl Chappuis, etc. In this competition the team made top performance by finishing in fourth place, the highest in the Asian Games after 1998.

2016 AFC U-23 Championship

The 2016 AFC U-23 Championship final tournament was held in Qatar from 12–30 January 2016. Thailand qualified for the tournament by runner-up in the qualification stage in homeland in March 2015. The Young Elephants recorded comprehensive victories; 2–1 against Cambodia; 5–1 against Philippines and 0–0 against North Korea.

The 2016 AFC U-23 Championship doubled as the qualifying tournament for the 2016 Summer Olympics Football tournament in Rio de Janeiro. Thailand were eliminated from the championship in the group stage. A 1–1 draw to Saudi Arabia followed by a 0–4 loss to Japan meant that Thailand needed to defeat North Korea in the final group match. A nil-all draw resulted in the elimination for Thailand from the tournament and hence failure to qualify for the Olympics. Although eliminated, Thailand earned praise and reputation for its strong performance in the tournament.

2018 AFC U-23 Championship

In the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship, Thailand only finished second in their qualification, but with the team being undefeated, Thailand beat Malaysia 3–0 and was held draws by Mongolia and Indonesia, Thailand became the best runners-up to qualify. The Young Elephants prepared by hosting the friendly 2017 M-150 Cup, where they finished fourth but managed to beat Japan 2–1. This enthusiastic performance of Thailand put up great hope for the team, having earlier conquered the 2017 SEA Games.

However, having entered the tournament, it would become Thailand's complete nightmare. They opened their game with a 0–1 loss to North Korea before got slapped with the same result to Japan, eventually eliminated the Young Elephants from the competition. The Thais bid goodbye from the competition in a humiliating fashion, with a devastating 1–5 loss to Palestine. To add the dismay, their defeated rivals Malaysia and Vietnam both moved on to progress from the group stage, with the latter managed to reach the final and ended in second place.

2020 AFC U-23 Championship

Thailand was awarded as host of the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship, therefore they were automatically qualified. Thailand still participated in the qualification as an opportunity to train and improve the team. Thailand, once again, finished second, after beating Indonesia and Brunei, but lost to Vietnam. Before the tournament, Thailand was eliminated at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games after the group stage.

In the group stage, Thailand would face Iraq, Australia and maiden debutant Bahrain, and was tipped favorably to progress, mainly due to Australia's underperformance in the tournament and inexperienced Bahrain. Thailand prepared by playing against Saudi Arabia in the friendly encounter, but lost 0–1. In their first match against inexperienced Bahrain, the Thais proved to be too dominant for the visitor, as the Thais demolished Bahrain 5–0. This win allowed more Thai supporters coming to cheer for the Thai side in their second encounter against underperformed Australia, instead, Thailand suffered a heartbreaking 1–2 loss to Australia despite having taken the lead and putting Thailand's quest to the final stage in their final game against Iraq. In final matches in group state Thailand draw Iraq 1–1 earn a spot in the quarterfinals of the tournament for the first time in AFC U-23 Championship as the second-placed team in the group behind Australia. In quarterfinals Thailand have to face with the winner of Group B, Saudi Arabia and lost with penalty 1-0 end the way to 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup

The 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup final tournament was held in Uzbekistan from 1 to 19 June 2022. Thailand qualified for the tournament by being runner-up in the qualification stage in Mongolia in October 2021, which drew; 1–1 against Mongolia; 3-0 against Laos and 0–0 against Malaysia.

In the group stage, Thailand (Pot 2) was drawn into Group C with South Korea (Pot 1), Vietnam (Pot 3), and Malaysia (Pot 4). All matches were played at Tashkent. In the 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup at Tashkent, Thailand drew 2–2 against Vietnam, won 3–0 against Malaysia, and lost to South Korea 0–1; they were eliminated from the group stage with four points.

Results and fixtures

Main article: Thailand national under-23 football team results

2026

• Alagich
• Macallister
• Sittha
• Chinngoen
• Faisal

Coaching staff

Coaching history

• CZE Doldjs Otkar (2001)
• ENG Peter Withe (2002)
• BRA Carlos Roberto (2003–2004)
• THA Chatchai Paholpat (2004)
• GER Sigfried Held (2004)
• THA Charnwit Polcheewin (2005–2006)
• THA Prapol Pongpanich (2007)
• THA Thongsuk Sampahungsith (2007)
• ENG Steve Darby (2009)
• ENG Bryan Robson (2010)
• THA Charnwit Polcheewin (2011)
• THA Prapol Pongpanich (2011)
• BRA Alexandré Pölking (2012)
• THA Kiatisuk Senamuang (2013–2015)
• THA Choketawee Promrut (2015)
• THA Kiatisuk Senamuang (2016)
• THA Worrawoot Srimaka (2016–2017)
• BUL Zoran Janković (2017–2018)
• THA Worrawoot Srimaka (2018)
• BRA Alexandre Gama (2018–2019)
• JPN Akira Nishino (2019–2021)
• THA Worrawoot Srimaka (2021–2022)
• ESP Salvador Valero Garcia (interim) (2022)
• BRA Alexandré Pölking (interim) (2022)
• THA Issara Sritaro (2022–2024)
• JPN Takayuki Nishigaya (2024–2025)
• THA Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul (2025–)

Players

Current squad

The following 23 players were called up for the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup on 6–24 January 2026.

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up within the last 12 months. INJ Withdrew from the squad due to injury

PRE Included in the Preliminary squad or on standby

RET Retired from the national team

SUS Serving suspension from the national team

WD Withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue

Previous squads

;AFC U-23 Asian Cup:

• 2016 AFC U-23 Championship squad
• 2018 AFC U-23 Championship squad
• 2020 AFC U-23 Championship squad
• 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup squad
• 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup squad ;Asian Games:
• 2002 Asian Games squad
• 2006 Asian Games squad
• 2010 Asian Games squad
• 2014 Asian Games squad
• 2018 Asian Games squad
• 2022 Asian Games squad ;SEA Games:
• 2005 Southeast Asian Games squad
• 2007 Southeast Asian Games squad
• 2009 Southeast Asian Games squad
• 2011 Southeast Asian Games squad
• 2013 Southeast Asian Games squad
• 2015 Southeast Asian Games squad
• 2017 Southeast Asian Games squad
• 2019 Southeast Asian Games squad
• 2021 Southeast Asian Games squad
• 2023 Southeast Asian Games squad

Competitive record

Olympic Games

AFC U-23 Asian Cup

;Note: 1: The under-22 team played at the 2013 edition.

*: Denotes draws including knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Asian Games

;Note: 1: The senior national team played at the 1951 to 1998 editions.

*: Denotes draws including knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Southeast Asian Games

;Note: 1: The senior national team played at the 1959 to 1999 editions.

2: The under-22 national team.

*: Denotes draws including knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

AFF U-23 Championship

;Note: *: Denotes draws including knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

*: The under-22 national team played at the 2019 edition onwards.

Summer Universiade

;Note *: Denotes draws including knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Head-to-head record

An all-time record table of Thailand national under-23 football team in major competitions only including; Summer Olympics, AFC U-23 Championship, M-150 Cup, Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games.

1. cfc; WL green
2. fcc; W
3. faf6ed; W=L cream Win % = W/Pld % --

Honours

This is a list of honours for the Thailand national under-23 football team.

International titles

• Summer Universiade ::*Bronze medal (1): 2007
• Asian Games ::*Fourth place (2): 2002, 2014

Regional titles

• Southeast Asian Games ::*Gold medal (7): 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2017 ::*Silver medal (3): 2021, 2023, 2025
• AFF U-23 Championship ::*Winners (1): 2005 ::*Runner-up (2): 2019, 2022 ::*Third place (2): 2023, 2025

Minor titles

• Dubai Cup ::*Winners (1): 2017
• BIDC Cup (Cambodia) ::*Winners (1): 2013

References

References

1. (9 January 2020). "ต่างกันชัด "ศุภณัฏฐ์" เปิดใจเหตุช้างศึกยู-23 ฟอร์มดีกว่าซีเกมส์".
2. (6 December 2019). "'นิชิโนะ'รับชุดยู-23มีจุดแก้ไขเยอะ หาเกมอุ่นเครื่องเพิ่มทีมเวิร์ค". มติชนออนไลน์.
3. TOR CHITTINAND. (21 January 2018). "Thai youth setup in need of a quick fix". Bangkokpost.
4. (8 June 2015). "Football successes leave Thais hungry for more". Todayonline.
5. "King of ASEAN ตัวจริง!! ย้อนรอย บัลลังก์แชมป์ซีเกมส์14สมัย".
6. wordpress, footballsea. (2 October 2014). "Thailand lose out to Iraq in bronze medal match".
7. "ย้อนดูความสำเร็จของนักกีฬาไทยในเอเชียนเกมส์". BBC News ไทย.
8. "แฟนบอลตั้งคำถาม เกิดอะไรขึ้นกับฟุตบอลชายทีมชาติไทย". BBC News ไทย.
9. "Flashback: AFC U23 Championship 2016 final".
10. "Fox Sports".
11. "AFC U23 Championship 2016 fixture".
12. (23 April 2014). "QUALIFICATION SYSTEM – GAMES OF THE XXXI OLYMPIAD – RIO 2016 – Football". Rio 2016 Official Website.
13. "AFC U-23 Championship Qatar 2016 TOP".
14. "AFC-U23-Championship-2018-800x533". มติชนออนไลน์.
15. "2018 AFC U23".
16. "Fox Sports".
17. (9 January 2020). "Thailand overwhelm Bahrain in U23 match". Bangkok Post.
18. (9 January 2020). "CAT พร้อมถ่ายทอดสด AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020".
19. "ทำความรู้จักทีมในศึกชิงแชมป์เอเชีย U23 : กลุ่ม B".
20. (18 January 2020). "ผู้เล่นตัวหลักครบ! ช้างศึกประกาศ 11 ผู้เล่นตัวจริง เกมบู๊ซาอุดีอาระเบีย รอบ 8 ทีม ศึกชิงแชมป์เอเชีย U23".
21. "Nation Thailand news website, breaking news : Nation Thailand".
22. (13 December 2019). ""วอริกซ์" เปิดชุดแข่งใหม่ "ช้างศึก" ประเดิมใช้ U23 ชิงแชมป์เอเชีย".
23. (September 2025). "supersubthailand.com - ตบรางวัล! ส.บอล มอบเงิน 13.2 ล้านบาท ทัพช้างศึก U23".
24. "Fox Sports".
25. (19 January 2020). "It's all over as War Elephants exit U23 meet". Bangkok Post.
26. "Fox Sports".
27. "Saudi Arabia U23 v Thailand U23 แมตช์รีพอร์ต 18/1/20, AFC U23 Asian Cup {{!".
28. (8 January 2020). "ศุภชัยยืนหน้าเป้า! ช้างศึก U23 ประกาศรายชื่อ 11 ผู้เล่นตัวจริงพบ บาห์เรน ศึกชิงแชมป์เอเชีย".
29. (September 2025). "supersubthailand.com - เท่ห์ ปลื้มคว้าดาวซัลโว ชิงแชมป์เอเชีย U23".
30. [https://www.thansettakij.com/general-news/527418 ผลบอลล่าสุด ทีมชาติไทย เสมอ เวียดนาม ศึกAFC U23 Asian Cup]
31. [https://www.bangkokbiznews.com/news/1008945 ผลบอลไทย U23 "ช้างศึก" พ่าย เกาหลีใต้ 0-1 ตกรอบ ฟุตบอลชิงแชมป์เอเชีย 2022]
32. [https://www.sccwiki.com/%e0%b8%9f%e0%b8%b8%e0%b8%95%e0%b8%9a%e0%b8%ad%e0%b8%a5%e0%b8%a5%e0%b8%b5%e0%b8%81%e0%b9%84%e0%b8%97%e0%b8%a2/ ประวัติฟุตบอลไทยลีก]
33. Alexandre Gama managed the qualification campaign. He left before the tournament and was replaced by Akira Nishino.