Madam Pang's plan failed.
Madam Pang has high hopes for the Thai women's national team in their quest to qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) President has launched a number of programmes to attract talented female players from overseas to play for the national team in order to strengthen it. She has also appointed experienced Japanese coach Futoshi Ikeda to lead her women's national team.
Madam Pang on her recent trip to Vietnam to support the Thailand U.17 women's team in a friendly match
Photo: Chi Dat
However, the Thai women's team failed to qualify for the 2026 Asian Cup, ending their dream of qualifying for the 2027 World Cup.
The Thai women's team suffered a shocking 1-2 defeat to their direct competitor India at home in Chiang Mai on July 5. As a result, they lost the top spot in Group B to their opponents. This is the first time the Thai women's football team has been absent from an Asian Cup since 1999.
The shock was so great that Madam Pang immediately decided to fire the entire coaching staff of the Thai women's team, including head coach Futoshi Ikeda. This is the second Japanese coach of Thai football to be fired recently. Previously, the coach of the U.23 men's team, Mr. Takayuki Nishigaya, was fired after a series of consecutive losses. Currently, only the coach of the Thai men's team, Mr. Masatada Ishii, is still in office.
"I would like to apologize to all Thai football fans who deserve respect. This is the night that I feel most regretful and disappointed. As the President of FAT, I would like to apologize once again to all the fans because the Thai women's team lost to the Indian team, causing them to be eliminated and unable to qualify for the next round in Australia next year (Asian Cup 2026). It is regrettable. And that means there is no hope to attend the next Women's World Cup in Brazil in 2027, as planned and intended by FAT," Madam Pang expressed in the letter.
Madam Pang is very interested in Thai women's football.
Photo: Chi Dat
She also explained: "I have been involved in managing Thai women's football for 18 years and have been successful (2 times participating in the World Cup 2015 and 2019). But today, as President of FAT, I am extremely disappointed with the performance of the women's team. There are no excuses from the federation, meaning from the coaching staff, all the players of the team, including me as the president of the federation, have been very disappointing."
Madam Pang promised: "I promise that, starting from July 7, after the board meeting, I will adjust the structure of all national women's football teams and will be interviewed about the amendments and adjustments to all aspects of the women's team with sincerity and cooperation from all women's football lovers."
Madam Pang also affirmed: "During the past time, the federation has planned and prepared very well for the Thai women's team. We have done everything possible. We have opened applications for female football players of Thai origin from abroad to participate in the selection for the team. But they were not selected by the coach. However, I, along with the technical director and the coach of the Thai women's team, will hold a press conference to discuss a solution to this problem and once again I sincerely apologize to all the fans."
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/madam-pang-viet-tam-thu-sau-cu-soc-cua-doi-tuyen-nu-thai-lan-xin-loi-va-hua-185250706082606562.htm
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