Thailand national under-23 football team

The 2014 Asian Games was held in Incheon, South Korea. The Thailand U23 Team under coach Kiatisuk Senamuang built a young-blood team that would later become the main Thailand senior team with players such as Chanathip Songkrasin, Sarach Yooyen, Kawin Thamsatchanan, Charyl Chappuis, etc. In this competition the team made top performance by finishing in fourth place, the highest in the Asian Games after 1998.[6][7][8]

The 2016 AFC U-23 Championship final tournament was held in Qatar from 12–30 January 2016. Thailand qualified for the tournament by runner-up in the qualification stage in homeland in March 2015. The Young Elephants recorded comprehensive victories; 2–1 against Cambodia; 5–1 against Philippines and 0–0 against North Korea.[9][10][11]

The 2016 AFC U-23 Championship doubled as the qualifying tournament for the 2016 Summer Olympics Football tournament in Rio de Janeiro.[12] Thailand were eliminated from the championship in the group stage. A 1–1 draw to Saudi Arabia followed by a 0–4 loss to Japan meant that Thailand needed to defeat North Korea in the final group match. A nil-all draw resulted in the elimination for Thailand from the tournament and hence failure to qualify for the Olympics. Although eliminated, Thailand earned praise and reputation for its strong performance in the tournament.[13][14]

In the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship, Thailand only finished second in their qualification, but with the team being undefeated, Thailand beat Malaysia 3–0 and was held draws by Mongolia and Indonesia, Thailand became the best runners-up to qualify. The Young Elephants prepared by hosting the friendly 2017 M-150 Cup, where they finished fourth but managed to beat Japan 2–1. This enthusiastic performance of Thailand put up great hope for the team, having earlier conquered the 2017 SEA Games.[15][16][17]

However, having entered the tournament, it would become Thailand's complete nightmare. They opened their game with a 0–1 loss to North Korea before got slapped with the same result to Japan, eventually eliminated the Young Elephants from the competition. The Thais bid goodbye from the competition in a humiliating fashion, with a devastating 1–5 loss to Palestine. To add the dismay, their defeated rivals Malaysia and Vietnam both moved on to progress from the group stage, with the latter managed to reach the final and ended in second place.[18]

Thailand was awarded as host of the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship, therefore they were automatically qualified. Thailand still participated in the qualification as an opportunity to train and improve the team. Thailand, once again, finished second, after beating Indonesia and Brunei, but lost to Vietnam. Before the tournament, Thailand was eliminated at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games after the group stage.[19][20][21][22][23][24][25]

In the group stage, Thailand would face Iraq, Australia and maiden debutant Bahrain, and was tipped favorably to progress, mainly due to Australia's underperformance in the tournament and inexperienced Bahrain. Thailand prepared by playing against Saudi Arabia in the friendly encounter, but lost 0–1. In their first match against inexperienced Bahrain, the Thais proved to be too dominant for the visitor, as the Thais demolished Bahrain 5–0. This win allowed more Thai supporters coming to cheer for the Thai side in their second encounter against underperformed Australia, instead, Thailand suffered a heartbreaking 1–2 loss to Australia despite having taken the lead and putting Thailand's quest to the final stage in their final game against Iraq. In final matches in group state Thailand draw Iraq 1–1 earn a spot in the quarterfinals of the tournament for the first time in AFC U-23 Championship as the second-placed team in the group behind Australia.[26] In quarterfinals Thailand have to face with the winner of Group B, Saudi Arabia and lost with penalty 1-0 end the way to 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.[27][28][29][30][31]

As of 25 August 2021

Name	Role
Nualphan Lamsam	Manager
Worrawoot Srimaka	Head Coach
Choketawee Promrut	Assistant Coach
Naruphol Kaenson	Assistant Coach
Pipob On-Mo	Assistant Coach
Umarin Yaodam	Goalkeeping coach

The following 23 players were called up for 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Club
23	1GK	Ronnachart Phuchum	(2002-03-18) 18 March 2002	Buriram United
1	1GK	Kiadtiphon Udom	(2000-06-26) 26 June 2000	Rajpracha
20	1GK	Kiadtisak Chaodon	(1999-07-19) 19 July 1999	Udon Thani
2	2DF	Nakin Wisetchat	(1999-07-09) 9 July 1999	Bangkok United
16	2DF	Anthonio Sanjairag	(2002-04-16) 16 April 2002	Chonburi
14	2DF	Sampan Kesi	(1999-07-03) 3 July 1999	Chonburi
17	2DF	Jonathan Khemdee	(2002-05-09) 9 May 2002	OB
15	2DF	Jaturapat Sattham	(1999-06-15) 15 June 1999	Port
4	2DF	Chonnapat Buaphan	(2004-01-22) 22 January 2004	Rajpracha
19	2DF	Owen Charlie Reinat	(2003-04-16) 16 April 2003	Thes Sport
5	2DF	Anusak Jaiphet	(1999-06-23) 23 June 1999	Sukhothai
3	2DF	Wanchat Choosong	(2000-02-01) 1 February 2000	Uthai Thani
21	3MF	Sittha Boonlha	(2004-09-02) 2 September 2004	Assumption United
13	3MF	Chayathorn Tapsuvanavon	(2000-03-12) 12 March 2000	Bangkok United
6	3MF	Airfan Doloh	(2001-01-26) 26 January 2001	Buriram United
12	3MF	Pongrawit Jantawong	(2000-10-07) 7 October 2000	Chiangmai
9	3MF	Sakunchai Saengthopho	(1999-06-07) 7 June 1999	Kasetsart
10	3MF	Thanawat Suengchitthawon (captain)	(2000-01-08) 8 January 2000	Leicester City
22	3MF	Ben Davis	(2000-11-24) 24 November 2000	Oxford United
11	4FW	Tawan Khotrsupho	(2000-01-23) 23 January 2000	Chiangmai
7	4FW	Jakkit Palapon	(1999-07-01) 1 July 1999	Khon Kaen United
8	4FW	Korawich Tasa	(2000-04-07) 7 April 2000	Muangthong United
18	4FW	Teerasak Poeiphimai	(2002-09-21) 21 September 2002	Prime Bangkok

The following players have been called up within the last 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
DF	Theerapat Laohabut	(1999-02-23) 23 February 1999			Ayutthaya United	2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualificationPRE
DF	Kritsanapol Booncharee	(2001-03-26) 26 March 2001			Bangkok United	2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualificationPRE
DF	Thawatchai Inprakhon				Buriram United	2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualificationPRE
FW	Guntapon Keereeleang	(2001-01-22) 22 January 2001			Bangkok United	2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualificationPRE

Notes:

• ^INJ Withdrew from squad due to injury
• ^PRE Preliminary squad
• ^SUS Suspended
• ^WD Player withdrew from the squad for non-injury related reasons

Olympic Games finals											Qualifications
Year	Host country	Result	Position	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA		GP	W	D	L	GS	GA
1992	Spain	Preliminary round qualification									8	5	0	3	25	9
1996	United States	Preliminary round qualification									4	2	0	2	12	6
2000	Australia	Second round qualification									6	1	2	3	4	13
2004	Greece	Second preliminary round qualification									2	0	1	1	2	5
2008	China	Second round qualification									8	3	2	3	9	7
2012	Great Britain	First preliminary round qualification									2	0	0	2	0	4
2016	Brazil	Did not qualify									2016 AFC U-23 Championship
2020	Japan	Did not qualify									2020 AFC U-23 Championship
2024	France	To be determined									To be determined
2028	United States	To be determined									To be determined
Total		0/7		-	-	-	-	-	-		30	11	5	14	52	44

Note

*:Denotes draws including knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

AFC U-23 Asian Cup finals											Qualifications
Year	Host country	Result	Position	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA		GP	W	D	L	GS	GA
20131	Oman	Did not qualify									5	2	1	2	11	6
2016	Qatar	Group stage	13th	3	0	2	1	3	7		3	2	1	0	7	2
2018	China	Group stage	16th	3	0	0	3	1	7		3	1	2	0	4	1
2020	Thailand	Quarter-finals	6th	4	1	1	2	7	4		3	2	0	1	12	4
2022	Uzbekistan	Qualified									3	1	2	0	4	1
Total		4/4	Best: 6th	10	1	3	6	11	18		17	8	6	3	38	14

Note

¹: The under-22 team played at the 2013 edition. *: Denotes draws including knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

AFC U-23 Asian Cup history
Year	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Stadium
2016	Group stage	13 January	Saudi Arabia	D 1–1	Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha
		16 January	Japan	L 0–4
		19 January	North Korea	D 2–2
2018	Group stage	10 January	North Korea	L 0–1	Jiangyin Stadium, Jiangyin
		13 January	Japan	L 0–1
		16 January	Palestine	L 1–5	Changzhou Olympic Sports Centre, Changzhou
2020	Group stage	8 January	Bahrain	W 5–0	Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok
		11 January	Australia	L 1–2
		14 January	Iraq	D 1–1
	Quarter-Final	18 January	Saudi Arabia	L 0–1	Thammasat Stadium, Khlong Luang

AFF U-22 Youth Championship record
Year	Host country	Result	Position	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA
2005	Thailand	Champions	1st	5	5	0	0	25	2
2019	Cambodia	Runners-up	2nd	5	2	2	1	5	2
Total		2/3	Best: 1st	10	7	2	1	30	4

Note

*: Denotes draws including knockout matches decided on penalty kicks. *: The under-22 national team played at the 2019 edition onwards.

Summer Universiade record
Year	Host country	Result	Position	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA
2007	Thailand	Bronze medal	3rd	6	3	1	2	11	6
Total		1/1	Best: 3rd	6	3	1	2	11	6

Note

*: Denotes draws including knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

• Summer Universiade

• Bronze medal (1): 2007

• Asian Games

• Fourth place (2): 2002, 2014

• Southeast Asian Games

• Gold medal (7): 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2017

• AFF U-23 Youth Championship

• Winners (1): 2005
• Runner-up (1): 2019

• Dubai Cup

• Winners (1): 2017

• BIDC Cup (Cambodia)

• Winners (1): 2013