Waris Choolthong represents the future of Thai football.

Following his decisive lone goal against the Philippines in the 2026 ASEAN Cup, Waris Choolthong has emerged as a notable name for the Thai national team.

A header from inside the penalty area by Waris Choolthong in the 84th minute earned Thailand's national team three crucial points. It was also the first goal for the 22-year-old right-back in his five appearances for Thailand, including three at the 2026 ASEAN Cup. Thanks to his performance, Waris Choolthong was named the Man of the Match.

In the 2026 ASEAN Cup, Waris Choolthong plays a key role in how head coach Anthony Hudson builds the team's gameplay. During the match against the Philippines, he covered the second-highest distance on the pitch for Thailand with 9.3 km, trailing only veteran Worachit Kanitsribampen (9.9 km).

"The coach always emphasizes team spirit and we try to support each other. I'm happy that we've shown that even with squad rotation, we can still achieve positive results. The whole team will keep working hard to perform even better," Waris said after the "War Elephants" victory.

Waris Choolthong is regarded as one of the most promising right-backs in Thai football. Standing at 1.80m, he currently plays for BG Pathum United and is a familiar face in Thailand's various youth national teams.

Waris came through the youth academy of Debsirin School (Bangkok) before signing his first professional contract with Rajpracha at the end of 2021. He made his Thai League 2 debut in March 2022 in a match against Khon Kaen FC.

In April 2022, Waris moved to Thai giant BG Pathum United. He also helped the club win the Thai League Cup in the 2023/24 season.

Waris has consistently been called up for Thailand's U19, U20, and U23 teams. He once shone in a 2-0 victory for Thailand U23 against Iraq U23 at the 2024 AFC U23 Asian Cup, contributing one goal and one assist. Waris also won a silver medal with Thailand U22 at the 2025 SEA Games.

At the club level, Waris has become a key player for BG Pathum United. The young defender made 24 appearances in the 2025/26 Thai League 1 season, providing two assists.

Waris is a versatile player capable of operating in several positions, including center-back, right-back, and midfield. However, his most developed role currently remains right-back, where he can fully utilize his speed, stamina, and ability to push forward and join attacks.

The rise of Waris Choolthong is good news for head coach Anthony Hudson, who has boldly given the player opportunities. Anthony had previously worked with Waris at BG Pathum United, so he is well aware of the young player's qualities.

If he continues to perform well at the 2026 ASEAN Cup, Waris is likely to earn further chances from coach Anthony Hudson in the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup.