From the Asian Games to the Asian Cup, and from the King’s Cup to the now-defunct Nehru Cup, India’s footballing rivalry with Thailand stretches over six decades. Its again India vs Thailand in a friendly.
The two nations first crossed paths at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta, where the Blue Tigers triumphed 4-1, a result that set the tone for what would become one of the more frequent inter-Asian matchups in international football.
Since that encounter, India and Thailand have met 26 times. The head-to-head currently stands at 12 wins for Thailand, seven for India, and seven draws. While the balance tilts in Thailand’s favour historically, recent encounters have belonged to the Blue Tigers, who won both matches in 2019.
That year marked a resurgence in Indian football on the continental stage. A 4-1 win over Thailand in the group stage of the AFC Asian Cup in Abu Dhabi not only ended a 55-year winless run for India at the tournament but also signalled the arrival of a confident, counter-attacking Indian side. Sunil Chhetri, who scored the opening two goals that night, remembers it fondly.
Later that year, India again got the better of the Changsuek, this time on their home turf in Buriram, winning 1-0 in the bronze medal match of the 2019 King’s Cup. It was a narrow win, but another marker in India’s gradual progress under a revamped approach.
Now, as the two sides prepare to meet again on June 4, 2025, at the Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani for a FIFA International Friendly, the context is once again one of preparation and testing ground for the bigger task ahead — the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Final Round Qualifiers.
A Tale of Two Teams
India come into the game ranked 127th in the FIFA Rankings. The Blue Tigers, under Igor Štimac, are currently in a transitional phase and looking to build momentum ahead of their crucial Group C qualifier against Hong Kong on June 10. A preparatory camp began in Kolkata on May 18, with the team scheduled to depart for Thailand by May 29 before flying to Hong Kong after the friendly.
Meanwhile, Thailand, currently ranked 99th, have been on a consistent upward trajectory under Japanese head coach Masatada Ishii, who took charge in December 2023. Since then, the Changsuek reached the Round of 16 in the 2024 AFC Asian Cup, won the 2024 King’s Cup, and finished runners-up in the ASEAN Championship, narrowly losing 3-5 on aggregate to Vietnam.
Thailand’s squad is a mix of domestic stalwarts and international professionals. Chanathip Songkrasin, the 30-year-old midfield general and captain with 70 caps, remains the beating heart of the team. Forward Supachai Chaided brings attacking intent, while defender Elias Dolah (Bali United, Indonesia), and midfielders Jaroensak Wonggorn (Cerezo Osaka) and Ekanit Panya (Ehime FC) lend valuable international experience. The squad also includes promising young talents like Ben Davis, who has netted three times in just six appearances.
The Thai side is preparing for their own Asian Cup Qualifier match against Turkmenistan, with head coach Ishii looking to fine-tune his side in this friendly. Their last outing saw them edge past Sri Lanka 1-0 — a result that, in the opinion of Hyderabad FC coach Manolo Márquez, Sri Lanka didn’t deserve to lose.
India’s Young Core and Optimism
While much of India’s focus remains on getting their attacking rhythm and midfield balance right ahead of the must-win clash against Hong Kong, players like Lallianzuala Chhangte see the Thailand match as a crucial step in that process.
“They are a good team, a hungry one,” said Chhangte. “They like to make runs behind. They are also a team that want to play with the ball. But again, we are totally focused on ourselves. It’s all about executing what we have been doing on the training pitch in the match.”
With Bangladesh, Singapore, India, and Hong Kong all tied at one point apiece in Group C after goalless draws on Matchday 1, India’s path to qualification remains wide open. The June window, therefore, becomes pivotal, and matches like the one against Thailand are more than just friendlies — they are real-time assessments of India’s depth, strategy, and cohesion.
With Sunil Chhetri potentially playing in one of his final international windows, the June 4 clash also carries emotional weight. His leadership remains central to India’s campaign, but there’s a clear emphasis now on younger players stepping up — be it Thapa in midfield, Chhangte out wide, or defenders like Rahul Bheke and Anwar Ali at the back.
The fixture in Pathum Thani may not carry the stakes of a qualifier or tournament final, but its timing — in the middle of two key Asian Cup qualifying fixtures — makes it vital for both teams.
For India, a win would not only boost morale and rankings but also reinforce the belief that they can compete against higher-ranked Asian sides, as they did it in Abu Dhabi back in 2019.
On June 4, the Blue Tigers have another chance to roar.
