Thai fans threaten to boycott national team following coach Ishii's sacking

Thai football fans during the 6-1 win over Taiwan in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, at Taipei Municipal Stadium, Taiwan on Oct. 14, 2025. Photo by FAT

The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) dismissed Ishii on Oct. 21 and appointed technical director Anthony Hudson as his replacement. FAT stated that the Japanese coach was no longer suitable in terms of management style and could not guarantee results.

However, many Thai fans have chosen to support Ishii, calling the decision "hasty" as the team only have two matches left in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. The anger was amplified by the team's promising 6-1 victory over Taiwan just a few days earlier. Under Ishii, the team achieved a 53% win rate, the second-highest among Thailand head coaches, and rose to 96th in FIFA rankings, their highest position in 17 years, Thairath reported.

Fans have called for a boycott of FAT and the national team, starting with the friendly match against Singapore at Rajamangala Stadium on Nov. 13. FAT's social media posts have been flooded with negative reactions. The live video introducing the new coach Hudson received over 1,700 angry reactions.

Ishii, despite his dismissal, wrote a letter on Instagram urging fans to maintain support for the national team.

"I believe many people were shocked and saddened by the FAT's announcement. But our biggest goal is to bring Thailand to the 2030 World Cup," he wrote. "That's why we need to change our attitude. I want everyone to come to the stadium to cheer for the players. Even the friendly match against Singapore is important."

Ishii, who began his letter by offering condolences for the passing of Queen Mother Sirikit, stressed that unity is the priority.

"Now is the time for Thailand to unite and move forward," he added. "Whether it's the federation or the fans, we should all look in the same direction. I hope one day I will see the Thailand flag flying at the World Cup."

While fans focused on recent successes, Ishii's tenure included significant disappointments that likely led to FAT's decision. The team failed to advance to the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, narrowly losing out to China. Following that, Thailand missed out on titles in both the 2024 ASEAN Cup and the 2025 King's Cup.

Thailand's immediate goal is to qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup. They are currently second in their group, tied on 9 points with Turkmenistan, but faced a disadvantage on head-to-head. The team have two crucial matches left: an away game against Sri Lanka on Nov. 18 and a home game against Turkmenistan on March 31, 2026.