Chiang Mai: 'Chaba Kaew', the Thai national women's football team, has traveled to Chiang Mai Province to gear up for the 2026 AFC Championship qualifiers. Japanese head coach Futoshi Ikeda led the team from Don Mueang Airport to the Alpine Football Camp Training. They will participate in the 2026 AFC Women's Championship Qualifying Round from June 23 to July 5 at the 700th Anniversary of Chiang Mai Stadium. According to Thai News Agency, Futoshi Ikeda mentioned that the majority of the players selected for this endeavor are from the previous training camp. The team is placed in a group comprising five teams, which will compete in four matches, necessitating a rotation of players to ensure everyone can effectively replace each other. Despite the preparations, the team acknowledges the need for further development. The immediate goal is to excel in the Asian Championship qualifiers with an eye on reaching the final round, followed by strengthening the team for the World Cup. The Thai women's national footbal l team is in Group B along with India, Mongolia, Timor-Leste, and Iraq. This tournament follows a round-robin format where all eight group winners will progress to the final round in Australia. They will join Australia (host), China (defending champion), South Korea, and Japan. The "Chaba Kaew" team is set to play their first match against Timor Leste on June 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the 700th Anniversary of Chiang Mai Sports Stadium.
