On January 7, Nualphan Lamsam, President of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), discussed Thailand’s aspiration to qualify for the FIFA World Cup during an Exclusive Talk livestream. She emphasized that achieving this dream requires collaboration with the government and support from international organizations. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s recent attendance at the AFF Championship 2024 final at Rajamangala National Stadium highlighted the government’s openness to supporting football development.
Nualphan noted that FIFA has allocated over 100 million baht for stadium improvements, with suggestions to renovate Supachalasai Stadium, a historic venue in Bangkok. The FAT plans to negotiate with Chulalongkorn University, the stadium's owner, for a long-term lease. FIFA's funding conditions require investments to last at least 20 years, making these negotiations crucial.
She also highlighted FIFA's recommendation to increase the number of large stadiums in Thailand, pointing to Indonesia’s infrastructure as an example, which includes at least eight major stadiums. Expanding or improving stadiums would enhance Thailand’s chances of hosting major international tournaments.
Additionally, Thailand has bid to host the AFC U-20 and U-17 Women’s Championships, with Bangkok and Chiang Mai proposed as host cities for the U-20 tournament.