Thailand and Qatar Sign Five-Year Football Development Agreement

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

Thailand and Qatar have entered into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at enhancing football development between the two nations. The agreement was signed by ‘Madame Pang’, Nualphan Lamsam, President of the Football Association of Thailand, and Jassim Rashid Al Buenain, President of the Qatar Football Association, at the QFA headquarters in Doha.

Effective from 2025 to 2030, the MOU encompasses various collaborative initiatives, with a particular focus on youth development. Qatar’s Aspire Academy and training facilities will play a central role in nurturing Thai football talent. Notably, Thailand’s under-17 national team previously trained at Aspire Academy from 16 to 26 March 2025, including a friendly match against Qatar’s under-17 team, in preparation for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia. Qatar is also set to host the FIFA U-17 World Cup from 2025 to 2029.

The partnership extends to technical development, including the exchange of referees for domestic and international matches, sharing of coaching and legal experts, joint workshops, and friendly matches between the two countries.

‘Madame Pang’ was also invited to attend the closing ceremony of Qatar’s 18th School Olympic Games, alongside dignitaries such as Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, former IOC President Thomas Bach, and Minister of Education Lolwah Al Khater, in the presence of over a thousand students and parents.

This agreement signifies a strengthened commitment to football development and international cooperation between Thailand and Qatar.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-05-24.