The Football Siam Newsletter 0003 - 07.07.2025
Your Weekly Deep Dive into Thai Football
Welcome to this weeks dose of Thai football once again scoured the Thai newspapers, Facebook feeds, and dodged the haters of X (formerly Twitter) to bring you all the essential Thai football nonsense, served up in our special way.
Let's dive in!
Thai League Three Shakeup
In what we are calling a Football Siam exclusive, we have been told by numerous sources that the Thai Semi Pro league team who had not already secured promotion to T3 have been told to get their ‘Ducks in a row’ (paperwork etc in order). According to reports the FA is set to finalise licenses for Thai Three for the forthcoming season early this week, there is expected to be a shortfall of teams due to failed licenses. This will in turn lead the league team numbers needing to be made up by the other teams hoping to secure promotion from the Amateur leagues taking up empty spots. Thai league three teams have struggled financial with poor attendances and increased travel expenses over the last few seasons. We will watch with baited breath.
Nongbua Pitchaya Pitch in for the season ahead
Nongbua Pitchaya FC confirms they’ll definitely be in T2 for 2025/26. A quote from the teams translates as ‘We're moving forward from July 1st after navigating issues. They give thanks to the Football Association of Thailand, friends, and amazing fans!’. It seems the team have overcome the finacial difficulites that were expected to force them to shut up shop. With both Nongbua Pitchaya and Nakorn Si United both confirming they will play it only leaves question marks over the finances of Lampang FC in Thai league 2 for the forthcoming season.
Landmark Broadcasting Deal Secured
As we previously reported The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) has successfully finalized a monumental 2 billion baht (approximately $61.22 million USD) exclusive broadcasting rights deal. Here are some more details this agreement spans four consecutive seasons, from 2025/26 to 2028/29, with an option for an additional two-year extension. This landmark deal, secured through a consortium comprising Gulf Development Plc, Advanced Info Service Plc (AIS), and Jasmine International Plc (JAS), is poised to revolutionize the landscape of Thai football. For the first time in history, comprehensive live coverage will extend across all tiers of national football leagues, encompassing Thai League 1, Thai League 2, Thai League 3, the FA Cup, League Cup, U-21 Youth League, and both Women's Leagues 1 and 2.
Audiences nationwide will gain unprecedented access to matches via the AIS Play digital platform and the MONO29 television channel, ensuring broad accessibility.This agreement is set to inject substantial financial stability into Thai clubs, with Thai League 1 teams slated to receive 15 million baht per season, Thai League 2 teams 4 million baht, and Thai League 3 teams 1.25 million baht. This infusion of capital is particularly significant given the substantial debts previously faced by the FAT, including a 360 million baht compensation payment from a past legal dispute.
AIS have also secured the rights to the English Premier league and are aggressively marketing their new deal packages.
Breakaway still on the cards
Discussions surrounding the potential separation of Thai League 1 from the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) continue to be a prominent topic. A proposal advocating for Thai League 1 clubs to establish their own competition management company, mirroring the English Premier League model, was deliberated in workshops held on May 4 and June 2, 2025. Initially, 11 clubs expressed support for this breakaway initiative. However, some clubs, such as Lamphun Warriors, subsequently withdrew their support, while others, including True Bangkok United and Muangthong United, abstained from voting. Nakhon Ratchasima FC did not attend the meeting, resulting in 10 clubs remaining in agreement with the proposal.
This proposal was formally submitted to the FAT Executive Council for a decision on Monday, July 3, 2025. The FAT Executive Committee, however, ultimately did not approve the move, reaffirming that the operational control of the Thai League will remain under Thai League Co, Ltd. We don’t think this will be the last we heard on this topic.
Season Countdown and Structure
The 2025/26 Thai League 1 season, marking its 9th iteration under the current name and the 29th season of top-flight professional football in Thailand, is officially scheduled to commence on August 15, 2025, and conclude in May 2026.
The Football Association of Thailand has confirmed that the Thai League 1 campaign will proceed without interruption during the 33rd SEA Games, scheduled to take place from December 9 to 20, 2025. This decision reflects a prioritization of the domestic league's continuity. However, acknowledging the potential impact on lower-tier clubs, the FAT has indicated that some Thai League 2 and Thai League 3 matches may be rescheduled. This flexibility will be applied if a significant number of players from these teams are called up for national duty in the SEA Games, which is an under-22 tournament.
Actual fixtures for the season are expected next week, the league that the league table will use goal difference over head to head for the season.
ASEAN Shopee Cup Draw
The official draw for the 2025/26 ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup was conducted in Bangkok on Friday, July 4, 2025. This second edition of the tournament is set to feature 14 national league champions and Cup winners from nine ASEAN countries. The competition will commence with qualifying round play-off matches scheduled for August 8 and 15, followed by the group stage kick-off on August 20. A notable development for this year's tournament is the absence of Indonesian clubs, which were unable to participate due to their failure to submit the required registration forms by the deadline.
Results: Who Kicked Whom, and How Hard
N/A
Transfer Market: The Great Player Shuffle (and the Whispers)
Its been a crazy busy week of transfers this week:
Ayutthaya United - Secure the signature of Philippino Dylan De Bruycker from Manila Digger FC.
Bangkok FC - The T2 side stregthen with English centre back Ben Nugent, Japanese midfielder Takahiro Tezuka and Philipino Jarvey Gayoso.
Bangkok United - Confirm the signing of Thai legendary striker Teerasil Dangda for a last swansong. They have also Singaporian international midfiederer Nakamura Kyogoa who is of Japanese descent.
BG Pathum United - Have recalled Ekanit Panya and Jaroensak Wonggorn from their disappointing loans in Japan. they are joined by excting Argentine attacking midfielder Joel Lopez Pissano from Bolivian side San Jose and Nathan Jones the cousin of Leon James.
Chonburi FC - Sign Brazilian midfielder Queven Inacio and secure the loan of Philipines internation Jefferson Tabinas he is joined by countryman Kevin Ray Mendoza.
Chiangrai United - No it’s not hot air as the elephants sign Brazilan centre back Helio from Erbil in Iraq, he is joined by countryman Dudu Silva
Kanachanaburi Power FC - Fuyo! the power sign Sergio Aguero, not the Argentine but the Malaysian version. They also secure the services of Ryhan Stewart and Adolph Koudakpo.
Lampung Warriors - filled the ranks with veteran English centre back Charlie Clough, Brazilian midfielder Ralph Machado makes the short journey from Chiang Rai. He is joined by countryman William Mota who returns to the league, left back Aly Cissokho returns after his sabatical in Muangthong.
Muangthong United - secure the services of Nigerian Nelson Orji
Nakhon Ratchasima - The Swat Cats Sign Brazilian centre back Wendel Matheus and Japanese national Mita Hirotaka
Port FC - Have been burning the baht in signing Philipines shot stopper Michael Falkesgaard, Columbian forward Bryan Perea, Brazilian striker Matheus Pato, Brazilian defender Matheus Lins from FC Sheriff in Moldova and Swiss /Iraqi defender Rebin Sulaka.
PT Prachuap FC - Have signed Philippines centre back Adrian Ugelvik and Cambodian Nick Taylor and 28 year old Brazilian forward Michel Lima.
Ratchaburi FC - grab Martinque defender Jeremy Corinus from ENP in Cyprus, French forward Ottman Dadoune joins from FC Bourg-Peroinnas in his home country, they also confirm the signing of Singaporian Ikhsan Fandi and the impressive signing of Brazilian Sidcley from Botafogo.
That's your lot for this week's "Football Siam" newsletter. We hope you enjoyed the ride. Tune in next Monday for more Thai football fun!