HLV Hudson: 'ASEAN Cup is an opportunity for young players to shine'

Thailand head coach Anthony Hudson considers the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026, held in July, a great platform for young footballers to showcase their abilities, with the squad targeting their eighth championship in the competition's three-decade legacy.

The 45-year-old English coach stated that for this year's ASEAN Hyundai Cup, Thailand will field a squad consisting largely of young players, complemented by some experienced figures to guide the team in their quest for the trophy.

"We have selected mostly young players in the lineup, along with a few seasoned players to mentor them in specific positions. We are striving to find the best balance between these two groups, with the main goal being to give opportunities to the young talents," Hudson said.

"We focus on one match at a time and aim to go as far as possible in the tournament. We will not put pressure on the players; instead, we will encourage them to express their full potential."

In the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026, Thailand is placed in Group B alongside Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Laos.

Thailand will kick off their group stage campaign with an away match against Laos at the new Laos National Stadium in Vientiane on July 25th.

According to the Bangkok Post and several Thai newspapers, the biggest challenge for Coach Hudson is not tactical but related to personnel management. The ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026 falls outside FIFA Days, meaning clubs are not obligated to release players, and it coincides with the preseason preparation period for the Thai League.

After meeting with the FAT, Hudson acknowledged that the coaching staff must negotiate with each club to reach a consensus before finalizing the squad list.

"We have to accept that the tournament overlaps with club schedules. The goal is to select players who are available and whose clubs agree to release them."

As planned, the Thailand national team will assemble on July 14, but discussions with clubs will continue until just before the gathering date.

The youth revamp has been a consistent direction for Hudson since he took over the Thailand team.

Media in the Land of Smiles suggests that the 45-year-old coach intends to use the ASEAN Hyundai Cup as a "laboratory" to assess the next generation of players while building resources for bigger campaigns like the 2027 Asian Cup finals.

Nevertheless, Hudson has retained some veterans to ensure a balance of experience in the squad, rather than relying entirely on young players.

With reduced performance pressure and a focus on squad development, Thailand hopes to discover new talents capable of succeeding the older generation, while pursuing their goal of winning the Southeast Asian championship for the eighth time in history.