In Group D, Thailand and Turkmenistan both have 12 points after the first 5 matches. However, Turkmenistan is holding the direct confrontation advantage after defeating Thailand 3-1 in the first leg. That result means that the "War Elephants" must win in Bangkok if they want to advance.
Before this match, Thai national team head coach Anthony Hudson admitted the difficulties and challenges the team faced. He said: "We prepared well and the players reacted positively. This will be a difficult and complex match because Turkmenistan is very strong. We must handle the pressure well, stay calm and avoid hasty actions. The entire squad, not just the starting lineup, will play a very important role.
For this match, Anthony Hudson is expected to field the strongest possible squad, the most suitable squad for the team's playing style, despite previously having problems with injuries and withdrawals of players such as Pansa Hemviboon, Yosakorn Burapha and Teerasil Dangda. He is still confident that the 23 players currently available are capable of replacing any of them.
Hudson emphasized the importance of home advantage, recalling the pressured atmosphere he witnessed in South America.
He shared: "Fans can make a big difference. I want them to be present at the stadium early, creating pressure right from the start. A stadium full of spectators will give us a real advantage.
We must remember that football lasts 90 minutes - it's not about scoring in the first 10 or 15 minutes. Substitutes will also play an important role in changing the game.
Thailand is currently ranked 96th in the world, and is rated much higher than Turkmenistan (137th in the world). However, that does not guarantee that Thailand will have an easy victory.
The importance of the match was emphasized by the President of the Thai Football Federation, Ms. Nualphan Lamsam, during a visit to the team at the training camp before the match. She pledged to reward 3 million baht if Thailand qualifies for the next round, and this number will increase to 5 million baht if they win by a difference of more than 3 goals.
She said: "This is one of the most important matches in many years. I see the solidarity and determination between the players. With the support of the fans, I believe that we can succeed and together we will advance to the finals.
According to Thai media, this match will not apply VAR technology. However, some new FIFA rules such as goalkeepers holding the ball for more than 8 seconds will be used. They also believe that the sunny and humid weather in Thailand will be a challenge for a team from Central Asia like Turkmenistan, where players are used to the climate and are cooler.
The Thailand vs Turkmenistan match will take place at 7:30 PM on March 31. If they win a ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup finals, the Thai team will follow in the footsteps of the Vietnamese, Indonesian and Singaporean teams to participate in the biggest football festival in the continent next year.
