Thailand have extended U23 coach Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul's contract until February 2028, according to Thanh Nien's account of a Football Association of Thailand announcement.
The association cited coaching stability and long-term development as reasons for retaining the coach, who has led the team since July 2025.
Focus on the next competition cycle
The FAT statement reviewed results including third place at the 2025 ASEAN U23 Championship, qualification for the 2026 AFC U23 finals, a SEA Games silver medal and an Asian Games quarter-final appearance in Japan.
The next major objectives include qualification for the 2028 AFC U23 competition and the 2027 SEA Games in Malaysia.
Thailand lost the previous SEA Games final 3-2 to Vietnam after extra time. Regaining gold is an objective for the next tournament, rather than an outcome guaranteed by the contract extension.
Pleiku provides an early test
Thailand are scheduled to join Vietnam, Qatar and Singapore at November's Gia Lai VTV Cup in Pleiku.
The reported schedule has Thailand facing Vietnam at 7pm on November 10, Qatar at 3pm on November 12 and Singapore at 3pm on November 14.
Thanh Nien also cites Siamsport's expectation that many players from Thailand's Asian Games squad could be selected. No final squad list is announced in the article.
The extension establishes continuity on the coaching side before those selections are made. The friendly tournament will offer a first opportunity to test personnel and combinations ahead of the more consequential 2027 fixtures.