British coach Anthony Hudson, who previously managed the national teams of the USA, New Zealand, and Bahrain, has been appointed as the new head coach of Thailand’s national football team. The announcement was made by the Football Association of Thailand.

Hudson’s appointment came two days after the resignation of Japanese coach Masatada Ishii. Before taking the new position, the 58-year-old served as Thailand’s Technical Director.

At the international level, Hudson led New Zealand’s national team from 2014 to 2017, winning the 2016 OFC Nations Cup. He coached Bahrain in 2013–2014 and served as interim head coach of the USA in 2023. His club experience includes managing Thailand’s BG Pathum United as well as Qatar’s Al-Arabi and Al-Markhiya.

“I have a deep passion for Thailand’s national team and this country. My dream is to lead Thailand to the final of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup,” Hudson said during his introduction ceremony.

The new coach also expressed confidence that Thailand can qualify for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. “I believe this team can reach the knockout stage. We just need to be more competitive,” he stated.

Hudson emphasized that he does not plan to radically change the squad. “My coaching style differs from Ishii’s, but it would be foolish to discard his achievements. I’ll build on them step by step,” he explained.

In June of this year, Turkmenistan’s national team defeated Thailand 3–1 in Ashgabat during the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. The goals were scored by Mikhail Titov, Ikhlas Saparmammedov, and Mekan Saparov.

The next match between Turkmenistan and Thailand will take place in March 2026 and may decide which team qualifies for the Asian Cup. After four rounds, both teams have 9 points and share the top spot in Group D. Sri Lanka sits third, three points behind, while Chinese Taipei remains last with no points.

The final stage of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia from January 7 to February 5, featuring the 24 strongest national teams of the continent.