Anthony Hudson Brings Thailand to Indonesia with One Mission: Win FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026

Thailand national team coach Anthony Hudson is not hiding his team's ambition at the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. As soon as he set foot at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Wednesday (23/9) evening, he immediately stated that The War Elephants had come to Indonesia with one target: to return home with the trophy.

"We want to win it. That is our target," Hudson said, as quoted from a PSSI release. The statement was not mere rhetoric. Thailand brought its best squad, a significant shift compared to the previous AFF edition when they played without their key players.

Hudson assessed that the change in squad composition made the competition in the tournament's inaugural edition far tighter. "The level of this tournament is clearly higher because all teams brought their key players. In the last AFF, we did not bring our key players. Now we have our main squad, so the level will certainly be much higher," he stressed.

The long journey from Bangkok to Jakarta did not make Hudson lose focus. He acknowledged that his players needed time to recover, but their competitive spirit had only increased. "We have just arrived and are very excited to play the first match. The journey was quite long, we need to recover, but we are really excited," he said.

Thailand is not alone in chasing the title. Hudson is aware that several teams have formidable strength, especially host Indonesia, Vietnam, and Singapore. "There are several very good teams here, such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and Singapore. There are many strong teams, so this tournament will be very competitive. But for now, we are only focused on the first match," he said.

Focusing on the opening match is Hudson's strategy to maintain momentum. He is reluctant to get caught up in the pressure of the title target that could disrupt the players' concentration. This approach reflects an awareness that a tournament with a new format and evenly matched strength demands rapid adaptation, especially since Thailand must adapt to the venue in Bandung, which is different from usual.

For Indonesia, Thailand's arrival with a full squad is a test in itself. As host, the Indonesian national team under a new coach is required to make the most of supporter backing and pitch conditions. The competition in Group B, which also includes Vietnam and the Philippines, makes every point crucial. Pakistan's presence as a non-ASEAN team adds color, but in terms of quality, the top three teams remain the favorites.

The inaugural edition of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 is a proving ground for Southeast Asian countries to show the rising level of competition. By bringing their key players, Thailand signals that they do not want to merely participate. However, Hudson also realizes that favorite status guarantees nothing. He chooses not to get carried away and to stay grounded.

The big question now: can Thailand turn ambition into reality, or will Indonesia and Vietnam dominate instead? The answer will become clear starting from the first match in Bandung, where Group B will complete all its fixtures.