Sri Lanka, the last South Asian team still in contention for the next round of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 qualifiers, will host Thailand this afternoon at the Racecourse Grounds in Colombo, aiming to finally break a long-standing hoodoo against their visitors.
The two sides have met seven times since 1979, with Sri Lanka yet to register a win, adding extra pressure on the home side before a passionate local crowd.
Sri Lanka coach Abdulla Al Mutairi, a Kuwaiti known for his emotional leadership style, remains optimistic despite his team’s FIFA ranking of 193.
Over the past year, Al Mutairi has guided Sri Lanka to six wins, five losses, and three draws.
A victory against Thailand, ranked 96th globally, would mark a high point in his tenure.
Sri Lanka can take heart from a 1–0 win over Turkmenistan at the same venue on 9 October, although they lost the return fixture 2–1 in Ashgabat five days later.
Group D remains tight, with Turkmenistan leading on nine points, Thailand also on nine, and Sri Lanka in third with six points.
A win today would see Sri Lanka draw level with Thailand, while a draw could keep their hopes alive ahead of final group matches against Chinese Taipei and Turkmenistan in March 2026.
Thailand enter the fixture under new head coach Anthony Hudson, the US-born Englishman who replaced Japanese manager Masatada Ishii last month.
Hudson, 44, brings experience from leading Bahrain (2013–14), New Zealand (2014–17), and serving as interim head coach of the United States in 2023.
With Group D wide open, today’s encounter could prove pivotal in determining which side advances in the regional qualifying campaign.
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