Thailand face off once again with Taiwan in a crucial Group D encounter of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers for the Saudi Arabia 2027 finals on Tuesday.
Thailand, who looked on the ropes after their 3-1 defeat to Turkmenistan on Matchday Two, rebounded in style against Taiwan with a 2-0 win and will expect another three points against the East Asian side despite playing away.
Thailand are top of the standings, sharing the same number of points with both Sri Lanka and Turkmenistan, with three matches remaining.
The War Elephants head coach Masatada Ishii told a pre-match press conference at Taipei Municipal Stadium that his men will be gunning for a victory in Tuesday’s battle.
“We’re facing the same opponents again — Taiwan. We won the first match, and our goal remains unchanged,” said the Japanese tactician.
“Whether we’re playing at home or away, the key is to fix our own shortcomings. If we don’t perform well on the road, it’s not just about the opponents — they’re not always the same team. They evolve. I’m working on correcting the areas where we still fall short.
“For this match, it’s hard to say how our playing style will differ. But based on the first game, we’ve identified what needs improvement and will aim to do better.
“Let’s see how things unfold once the match begins. As for Natthapong Sairiya, he’s been consistently solid in Thai League 1 play — his build-up play is strong, and he’s great at motivating and guiding his teammates.”
Thailand striker Teerasak Poeiphimai added: “We’ve been well-prepared since day one of camp. In this game, we’re determined to secure all three points.
“The team’s atmosphere has improved since the first match, where we earned a home win. We need to do it again — to bring joy to the fans and boost morale heading into the next game.
“Personally, I feel the pressure of being the lone striker, but my teammates have been supportive throughout. I’ll give it my all and fight for the win.”
Thailand, ranked 101st in the Fifa world rankings, will once again take the field as pre-match favourites against 173rd-ranked Taiwan at Taipei Municipal Stadium.
They are riding a tide of confidence after their victory in the third group match on Thursday night, which came courtesy of goals from substitute Seksan Ratree and captain Chanathip Songkrasin, putting the War Elephants back on track after a mixed start to the qualifiers.
Sri Lanka did Thailand a massive favour on Thursday night when they stunned Turkmenistan 1-0 at home with a second-half goal by Leon Manimeldura.
The South Asian side moved up to six points, while Turkmenistan lost their perfect record. Taiwan remain at the bottom of the table without any point.
The match between Thailand and Taiwan on Tuesday kicks off at 5.30pm (Thai time) and will be broadcast live on Thairath TV Channel (32), the BG SPORTS YouTube channel and TrueVisions Now.