After the end of the last international matchday, 15 teams have already confirmed places for the World Cup. In the Asian region, there are also many teams eliminated in advance, including the national football team that lost 1-3 to Vietnam on the first day of the Chinese New Year. After missing the 2022 World Cup, the new preparation of the national football team will revolve around next year's Asian Cup.
The 2022 World Cup is the last tournament in which the 32 teams participate. By 2026, the World Cup will be doubled to 64 teams, with eight places in Asia. Although there are 8 places in the Asian region, from the latest FIFA rankings, it is still difficult for the national football team to participate, after all, we are only ranked 9th.
If the national football team wants to participate, in addition to surpassing the front team, it must actually beware of the anti-overtaking of the countries behind it. Recently, Thai coach Alexander Polkin said in an interview that the team's future goal will be directed at the 2026 World Cup.
From the FIFA rankings, the Thai team is only ranked 112, even if you look at Asia, it is only 21. In the previously concluded Round of 40, Thailand only ranked 4th in the group and missed the qualification. But because of this, the Thai team has changed coaches, and the team has made significant progress after the 45-year-old Brazilian coach Alexander Polkin took charge.
At the Southeast Asian Championships held late last year and early this year, Thailand lifted the tournament for the sixth time. In the second leg of the final 50 days ago, Thailand beat Indonesia 6-2 on aggregate to win the trophy in an absolute stance. Although the strength of the Southeast Asian Championship teams is limited, it also includes Vietnam, the top 12 team in the Asian region of the World Preliminary Championship.
Due to the team's low ranking, thais want to participate in next year's Asian Cup and have to pass the qualifiers. But it is believed that under the leadership of Brazilian Alexander Polkin, it is not very difficult for them to pass the qualifiers. Polkin said in an interview that he wants to write more success with the Thai team, and participating in the 2026 World Cup is the dream of the whole team.
Polkin believes that the World Cup will have new changes in 2026, and the allocation of 8 places in the Asian region has also given many teams opportunities. The Brazilian specifically mentioned the Vietnamese team in the interview, which they believe did not have many bright results before, but they have now reached the top 12 and are an example for us to learn from.
Judging from the rankings, the Thai team wants to participate in the 2026 World Cup, in fact, there is still a long way to go. But don't ignore that there are actually 4 years to go before 2026, which is enough to make a huge change in the strength of a country's football. In the previous time, Thailand's number one star, Song Krasin, joined Japanese J-League champion Kawasaki Striker for nearly 3,000W. Once the Thai team rises, it is believed that it will be a new threat for the national football team to impact the World Cup.