Chairman Ratchaburi warns Thai football is lost after defeat to Vietnam.
The defeat at the SEA Games 33 against Vietnam exposed the crisis of a promising young talent pool in Thai football, forcing experts to re-examine the youth training system.
Thailand's U22 team's defeat to Vietnam's U22 team in the SEA Games 33 final was not just a simple loss, but also a warning about the weakening of a Southeast Asian football empire. With the "War Elephants" failing to win the gold medal again since 2017, public opinion in Thailand is raising serious questions about the future direction of development.
A series of alarming results against a major rival.
The defeat in the SEA Games 33 final extended Thailand's trophy drought in this competition. Notably, this was the second consecutive painful defeat for the Thai national team against Vietnam in important tournaments, following their recent loss to the AFF Cup 2024 final.
Once the dominant force in the region, Thai football is showing clear signs of decline. As the "golden generation" with names like Chanathip Songkrasin and Theerathon Bunmathan gradually passes their peak, the next generation has yet to demonstrate the same level of skill to maintain its dominant position.
Gaps in the youth training system.
From the perspective of a professional football manager, Tanawat Nitikanchana, President of Ratchaburi FC, frankly pointed out the flaws in the development structure. He stated that the root of the current decline lies in the limitations of youth training.
"To have a strong national team, we need to continuously produce quality young players generation after generation. But the reality in the Thai League today shows that the number of domestic players capable of competing at a high level is not large," Mr. Tanawat shared with concern.
The paradox in the Thai League
The chairman of Ratchaburi FC also analyzed a paradox existing in the national championship. Although the 2025/26 Thai League season is considered more attractive and competitive, this success is based primarily on foreign players.
While clubs' over-reliance on foreign players enhances the entertainment value of the league, it inadvertently stifles opportunities for local talent. According to Mr. Tanawat, this is a vicious cycle that leaves Thai players without playing time and unable to gain the necessary practical experience.
Difficulty in concentrating forces.
Besides professional issues, recruiting players for youth national teams also faces many obstacles. Because the SEA Games and some Asian youth tournaments are not part of FIFA's official competition system (FIFA Days), Thai League clubs have the right to refuse to release players to prioritize economic interests and domestic league performance.
Mr. Tanawat expressed sympathy for the fans' disappointment but also affirmed that this was an unavoidable reality: "When a tournament is not part of FIFA Days, clubs have the right to prioritize their own interests. This is an unavoidable reality."
Solutions for the future
To escape the current situation, the head of Ratchaburi FC believes that Thai football needs a comprehensive reform of youth training quality nationwide. Building a deep reserve force will help the national team avoid crises whenever key players are absent or when there are difficulties in mobilizing players.
The strong rise of Vietnamese football at the youth and national team levels is putting Thai football in a position where it must make drastic changes if it does not want to continue falling behind in the race for dominance in Southeast Asia.
