Bangkok: Thailand defeated Myanmar 2-0 to advance to the semi-finals of the 2026 ASEAN Football Championship. The Thai national football team achieved victory with two penalty goals, ensuring a clean sweep in the group stages with four consecutive wins. However, this success did not translate to fan attendance, as the match drew 3,000 fewer spectators than the previous game.
According to Thai News Agency, the ASEAN Football Championship "Hyundai Cup 2026" match at Rajamangala National Stadium featured a Group B showdown between Thailand, ranked 94th globally, and Myanmar, ranked 158th. Before the match began, a moment of silence was held to honor the victims of the Thepsirin School incident in Nonthaburi.
Thailand secured their win with a penalty kick by Worachit Kanitsribampen in the 11th minute, followed by another penalty goal by Che Hanafi Mamat in the 52nd minute. Both goals resulted from handball infractions, leading to a final score of Thailand 2-0 Myanmar. With this victory, Thailand claimed the top spot in Group B with 12 points and advanced to the knockout stage. As a reward, they received a 2 million baht bonus from "Madam Pang" Nualphan Lamsam, President of the Football Association of Thailand. They are set to face Singapore, the Group A runner-up, in the semi-finals, with the first leg away on August 15th and the second leg at home on August 18th.
In the other semi-final, Malaysia will compete against Vietnam, with matches scheduled for August 16th and August 19th.
Thai national team head coach Anthony Hudson expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, highlighting the clean sheet and lack of suspensions as significant achievements. He praised the players for their aggressive play and ability to maintain pressure despite fatigue.
Team captain Sarach Yooyen noted that the team's four-match winning streak and group victory aligned with their goals. He emphasized the improvement in team cohesion throughout the tournament and expressed cautious optimism about facing Singapore in the upcoming semi-final, recognizing them as a formidable opponent.
Midfielder Worachit Kanitsribampen, who scored one of the goals, commented on the decline in fan attendance from 16,037 to 13,026. He urged more supporters to attend future matches, emphasizing the importance of encouragement for the team.
Myanmar coach J¸rn Andersen expressed frustration in his post-match comments, pointing out that the penalties were the deciding factor in the loss. Andersen felt that Myanmar had created more opportunities and believed they deserved a different outcome.