Thailand officially finalizes major plan ahead of FIFA Days

The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) has officially confirmed that Oman, Bahrain, and Tajikistan will take part in the 2026 King's Cup during the November FIFA Days.

The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) has just officially announced the list of guest teams for the 2026 King's Cup. Accordingly, Oman, Bahrain, and Tajikistan will compete alongside the host nation Thailand in this traditional friendly tournament, which will take place during the upcoming FIFA Days in November. This is seen as an important preparation step for the "War Elephants" ahead of their major goals in 2027.

According to the announcement from the FAT, all three guest teams have completed their confirmation procedures. Among them, Oman is ranked 79th in the world, Bahrain is 92nd, and Tajikistan is 101st on the FIFA rankings. With relatively balanced professional quality, the 2026 King's Cup promises to deliver exciting and highly competitive matchups for the Thai national team.

The selection of opponents from the West Asian and Central Asian regions also shows the clear direction of the FAT in improving the quality of international friendlies. Instead of seeking lower-ranked teams, Thai football aims to create a truly high-quality competitive environment to help the national team gain experience and improve its position on the FIFA rankings.

The King's Cup has long been regarded as one of the most prestigious tournaments in Thai football. First held in 1968, the tournament holds special significance as the championship cup is awarded by the Thai Royal Family. Over more than half a century of development, the King's Cup is not only a traditional playground for the "War Elephants" but has also become one of the oldest friendly tournaments in Asian football.

In addition to confirming the participating teams, the FAT is also urgently completing the selection process for the host venue. Currently, four provinces—Sisaket, Khon Kaen, Ayutthaya, and Rayong—have officially submitted bids to host the tournament. The FAT's expert committee is evaluating criteria such as facilities, organizational capacity, economic efficiency, and tourism promotion potential to make the final decision.

According to the plan, the host province for the 2026 King's Cup will be announced at the FA Thailand Awards 2025/26 ceremony on July 7. With the participation of teams with fairly good FIFA rankings and the host country's thorough preparation, the 2026 King's Cup is expected to further solidify its status as a top regional friendly tournament, while also giving the Thai national team more opportunities to test their strength against quality opponents during the FIFA Days in November.