Thailand War Elephants Crush Laos 5-0, Lead Group B at ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026

Thailand Explode in Vientiane With Opening 5-0 Demolition

Thailand's War Elephants sent an early statement at the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026, delivering a crushing 5-0 victory over Laos at the New Laos National Stadium in Vientiane on July 25, 2026. The result puts Thailand atop Group B with three points and a goal difference of +5 — a commanding start on their quest for a record-extending eighth championship title.

Teerasak Puephimai, the young Port FC forward, was the man of the moment — opening the scoring in the 11th minute before being fouled so heavily that the Laotian defender received a red card. He ended the night with the Hyundai Player of the Match award, a recognition of a performance that announced him to a wider regional audience.

---

Red Card Turns the Game — Thailand Dominate Second Half

The match reached its defining moment in the 42nd minute when Laos defender Phetdavanh Somsanid was shown a straight red card for a rough foul on Yotsakorn Burapha. From that point on, Thailand played against ten men for the entire second half — and they made every advantage count.

• Minute 11 — Teerasak Puephimai (Port FC) — 1-0
• Minute 27 — Kakana Khamyo (Muangthong United) — 2-0
• Minute 42 — Red card: Phetdavanh Somsanid (Laos)
• Minute 46 — Yotsakorn Burapha (Chonburi FC) — 3-0
• Minute 59 — Kakana Khamyo (Muangthong United) — 4-0
• Minute 49/52 — Sarach Yooyen (BG Pathum United, captain) — 5-0

Kakana Khamyo was the other standout performer, netting twice in what was an authoritative statement from the Muangthong United midfielder. Captain Sarach Yooyen wrapped up the scoring with a fifth goal that sent the travelling Thai supporters home thoroughly satisfied.

---

Hudson: "Pleased With the Attitude, But Still Work to Do"

English head coach Anthony Hudson expressed satisfaction with his players' effort while acknowledging there remains room for improvement before the next fixture. Hudson had been candid ahead of the tournament that this Thailand squad was "not the number-one candidate" — a frank assessment shaped partly by the notable absences from his roster.

Chanathip Songkrasin, the three-time tournament MVP who currently plays in Japan, and Supachok Sarachat are both missing from this squad, leaving space for younger and second-choice players to step up. Teerasak Puephimai and Kakana Khamyo made the most of the opportunity in the opening match.

---

Group B Standings After Match Day 1

Thailand lead on goal difference (+5 against Malaysia's +1) — the scale of the opening victory already providing a useful cushion if the group comes down to the wire.

---

August 1: The Match That Matters

Thailand's remaining Group B fixtures:

The Malaysia fixture on August 1 is the defining match of Thailand's group stage campaign. Both nations opened with identical wins, and a victory at home in Bangkok would extend Thailand's lead to six points with two games to play — making qualification virtually certain.

Malaysia, who beat Myanmar 2-1 thanks to a brace from naturalised Brazilian Paulo Josué, are the real test of how far this Thailand squad has come. Hudson will know that a convincing performance here could also signal to the rest of the tournament that the War Elephants are genuine contenders — regardless of who is or isn't in the squad.

---

First Edition With VAR — A Milestone Tournament

The ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026 runs from July 24 to August 26, with 10 nations split into two groups of five. The top two from each group advance to home-and-away semi-finals and a two-legged final.

A landmark feature of this edition is the use of VAR (Video Assistant Referee) throughout the entire tournament for the first time in ASEAN Championship history — a significant step forward for football governance across the region.

In Group A, defending champions Vietnam opened with a 7-0 demolition of Timor-Leste, while Singapore are the early pacesetters with two wins from two. Vietnam beat Thailand 5-3 on aggregate in the most recent final, giving the War Elephants a specific motivation for revenge on top of the pursuit of an eighth title.

For a full preview of the tournament format, squads and predictions, see our ASEAN Cup 2026 preview.

---

Key facts (as of July 28, 2026)

• 📅 Date: July 25, 2026
• 🏟️ Venue: New Laos National Stadium, Vientiane
• ⚽ Result: Laos 0–5 Thailand
• 🥅 Scorers: Teerasak (11'), Kakana (27', 59'), Yotsakorn (46'), Sarach (49')
• 🟥 Red card: Phetdavanh Somsanid (Laos, 42')
• 🏅 Player of the Match: Teerasak Puephimai
• 📊 Group B: Thailand lead with 3 pts (+5 GD)
• 📅 Next match: Thailand vs Malaysia, August 1, Bangkok