Thai women's football aims to reach a higher level.

Thailand is the only Asian country to host the FIFA Women's Series 2026 friendly tournament, alongside Brazil, Kenya, and Ivory Coast.

Madam Pang (left) and FIFA leaders - Photo: FIFA

Becoming the first Asian country to host this tournament is not only a historic milestone, but also a testament to the Football Association of Thailand's (FAT) ambition to reach global prominence.

The tournament took place from April 12 to 15 in Ratchaburi province, with the participation of host Thailand, Indonesia, Congo, and New Caledonia. For Thai football, this was their first FIFA-level event as host since the 2012 Futsal World Cup.

FAT President Madam Pang called it an "invaluable opportunity." The tournament not only helped Thai women's national team players gain experience against world-class opponents but also provided a huge boost to infrastructure. Thanks to the FIFA Series, Thailand has undertaken comprehensive upgrades to its training and competition venues to meet international standards.

In particular, funding from the FIFA Forward program has helped FAT successfully integrate VAR technology into the league. This ensures the highest professional quality and affirms equality between men's and women's football.

This event is the result of a strong partnership between FAT and FIFA. On its website, FIFA highly praised Thailand's potential and organizational capabilities. FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his support for FAT's professionalization development strategies. This trust was further affirmed when Madam Pang became the first woman appointed as Chairperson of the FIFA Development Committee.

Although the Thai women's national team has participated in the World Cup twice (2015, 2019), Madam Pang emphasized that maintaining success requires a solid foundation. She affirmed that "the younger generation" and "opportunities to play" are the two top priorities for the next 4-5 years.

Accordingly, FAT is vigorously implementing a series of FIFA-funded projects. Notable examples include FIFA Football for Schools (helping to bring football into schools) and FIFA TDS Talent ID (a campaign to find and build a database of talented girls from the U17 age group across Thailand).

According to Madam Pang, the emergence of major tournaments like the FIFA Series is a great source of inspiration and encourages young girls to confidently pursue their dreams of wearing the national team jersey.

By hosting the FIFA Series 2026, Thailand not only aims to create exciting competitions on the pitch, but also aspires to usher in a new era for women's football: professional, systematic, firmly rooted, and ready for a return to the World Cup in the near future.

THANH DINH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bong-da-nu-thai-lan-tham-vong-vuon-tam-20260412084421854.htm