Football in Thailand

Football in Thailand is organized by Football Association of Thailand (FAT).

Football is the most famous sport in Thailand. Although the professional football leagues are new to Thai people, football was introduced to Thailand as far back as 1897. Many Thais also watch football on local and paid-cable TV. Many matches, especially those in the English FA Premier League can be watched free on local channels. Thai channels broadcast every match of the 2006 World Cup.

In 2007, Thailand co-hosted the Asian Cup 2007 with three other countries. This was the second time the event had been held in Thailand, the first being in 1972.

History

Football was introduced into Thailand in 1897. In 1916, King Vajiravudh founded "The Football Association of Thailand under Patronage of His Majesty the King." After that the association joined the FIFA in 1925 and AFC in 1957.

Thailand national football team joined Olympic Games first time in Australia in 1956

The first football stadium, Suphachalasai Stadium, was built in 1935. King's Cup, the first football cup was introduced in 1968. And then two years later, Queen's Cup, a national cup competition, started in 1970.

Thai football competitions

Leagues and tournaments

League competitions in Thailand include :

High-Division

* Premier League
* Division 1
* Division 2

Low-Division

For promotion to Division 2:

* Football Royal Cup - (Division 3 A) For the general teams.
** Khǒr Royal Cup ( _th. ถ้วย ข.) - "Division 3 - 1 A" - The top two teams are promoted into Division 2.
** Khor Royal Cup ( _th. ถ้วย ค.) - "Division 3 - 2 A"
** Ngor Royal Cup ( _th. ถ้วย ง.) - "Division 3 - 3 A"

* Provincial League - (Division 3 B) For provincial teams around the country. This competition is organized by the "Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT)". It's divide to 5 regional consist of Central, Eastern, Northern, Northeastern (Isan), Southern. The winners and the runner-ups from each regions will play in "SAT Championship playoffs" in the tournament at the end of a season. The top two teams are promoted into the Division 2.

"(See also: Thai football league system for the additional detail about league system.)"

Cup competitions

* FA Cup - an annual match of football clubs in Thailand.
* Queen's Cup - an annual national football cup competition.
* Kor Royal Cup ( _th. ถ้วย ก.) - an annual match between the champions and the runner-ups of the Premier League
* King's Cup - an annual international football competition for national teams.

Other famous competitions

* Chula-Thammasat Traditional Football Match, an annual match between Chulalongkorn University and Thammasat University on January at Suphachalasai Stadium. It first started in 1934.
* Jaturamitr a bi-annual competition of four oldest high schools in Thailand (Suankularb Wittayalai School, Debsirin School, Assumption College, and Bangkok Christian College). It first started 1964.

Youth football

Youth football is very popular in Thailand, with several competitions and clubs being active.Bangkok Soccer League is a youth football club organised for children attending international schools in Thailand and provides regualr football for over 500 kids, both Thai and expat.

Thai famous players

* Bamrong Boonprom
* Dassakorn Thonglao
* Kiatisuk Senamuang ("Zico")
* Piyapong Piew-on
* Sarayoot Chaikamdee
* Seksan Piturat
* Suree Sukha
* Sutee Suksomkit
* Tawan Sripan
* Teerathep Winothai ("Leesaw")
* Therdsak Chaiman

See also

* Thai football league system
* Thailand Football Records and Statistics
* List of football clubs in Thailand
* Thailand Futsal League

External links

* [http://www.fat.or.th/90Years.en.aspx Football Association of Thailand]
* [http://www.sat.or.th/sat.en/ Sports Authority of Thailand]