Thailand confirms three guest teams for King's Cup 2026

Thailand's football governing body (FAT) has formally confirmed the participation of Oman, Bahrain, and Tajikistan in the 52nd King's Cup, an international friendly competition scheduled for the FIFA Days window in November 2026.

According to the FAT announcement, Oman (world rank 79), Bahrain (world rank 92), and Tajikistan (world rank 101) have all accepted the invitation. The matches are classified as FIFA International "A" fixtures and will take place during the FIFA Days period from November 9 to 17, 2026.

The King's Cup is a long-standing traditional tournament in Thai football, first held in 1968. The championship trophy was originally donated by the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej for the inaugural edition, and since the 48th King's Cup in 2022, King Maha Vajiralongkorn has continued to award this prestigious cup to the winners.

Currently, the King's Cup is regarded as the oldest tournament in Thailand and ranks second in Asia in terms of longevity.

Besides confirming the guest teams, the FAT is also in the process of selecting the host venue for the tournament. Four provinces have officially submitted bids to organize the event: Sisaket, Khon Kaen, Ayutthaya, and Rayong.

Among them, Sisaket proposes the Sisaket Provincial Stadium, Khon Kaen will use the Khon Kaen Provincial Government Stadium, Ayutthaya has registered the Ayutthaya Provincial Stadium, while Rayong has put forward two options: the Rayong Provincial Central Stadium and the PTT Rayong Stadium.

According to the FAT, the selection committee is evaluating each province's organizational capacity based on international match standards, while also considering factors such as professional quality, economic efficiency, tourism promotion potential, and the ability to spread football enthusiasm among fans.

The host location for the 2026 King's Cup will be announced by the Football Association of Thailand at the FA Thailand Awards 2025/26 ceremony, which is scheduled to take place on July 7, 2026, at The Grand Four Wings Hotel in Bangkok.