Madam Pang calls Thailand national team 'delicious steak' following match invitations

Madam Pang after Thailand secured qualification to the 2027 Asian Cup on March 31, 2026. Photo by Facebook/Madam Pang

Madam Pang confirmed on Tuesday that Thailand had received friendly match invitations from China and Tajikistan for the FIFA Days window in June.

"The Thailand national team are truly a delicious steak! Both the Chinese and Tajikistani federations have officially sent us invitations for friendly matches. Let's heat up the atmosphere for FIFA Days in June, after we have secured our ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup!" she wrote on Facebook.

Both China and Tajikistan have also qualified for the 2027 Asian Cup. They will be joined by Thailand and other Southeast Asian representatives, including Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore.

Thailand are currently occupying the 93rd position on FIFA ranking, one place above China.

The "War Elephants" were placed in the third-seeded group for the 2027 Asian Cup, alongside 99th-ranked Vietnam and 103rd-ranked Tajikistan.

Indonesia, ranked 122nd, and Singapore, ranked 147th, find themselves in the fourth-seeded group.

China's early invitation to Thailand stems from the fact that most other top Asian teams will be in the U.S., Mexico and Canada preparing for the 2026 World Cup during that window.

The China national team are also eager to reclaim their position in the FIFA ranking after being overtaken by Thailand for the first time in many years.

Tajikistan also officially sent an invitation to Thailand in hopes of improving their standing. The Central Asian team recently dropped out of the global top 100 after being overtaken by Vietnam.

The Tajikistan national team are aiming to maintain or improve their current position to avoid dropping into the fourth-seeded group, a serious risk if they let Kyrgyzstan (107th) overtake them.

While Madam Pang has confirmed the incoming invitations, the specific schedule for the Thailand national team during the FIFA Days in June remains unfinalized, as FAT must first discuss the suitability of the proposed schedule with head coach Anthony Hudson before making any official announcements.

The Vietnam national team are likely to skip friendly matches during the June FIFA Days window.

Head coach Kim Sang-sik and his staff are reportedly planning to hold a specialized domestic training camp or an overseas tour combined with unofficial friendly matches.

This strategy aims to carefully prepare the squad for their title defense campaign at the ASEAN Cup in July and August, followed by the FIFA ASEAN Cup in September and October.