Within the first round of matches in Group C, amidst fierce competition for a spot in the World Cup 2026 third qualifying round, China will face Thailand at home.
Expert Opinion
In the World Cup 2026 second qualifying round on November 16, 2023, the Thai national team lost to China with a score of 1-2, much to the disappointment of the fans. Despite a spirited performance at home, the Thai team couldn’t secure a win against China. This result cost the Thai team 3 points, leaving them behind China in the standings. In this encounter, the “Golden Temple team” is determined to resist and secure a crucial spot in the next round. They understand that China is not an easy opponent, but with determination and smooth coordination, the Thai team still hopes for a glorious victory. Furthermore, Thai forward Supachai Jaided has affirmed their determination to win. All Thai players are ready to cooperate well to secure 3 points, looking ahead to the match against Singapore.
On the other hand, the Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic of China has asserted his full responsibility for the upcoming match against Thailand. He has chosen all the players, and he has a perfect plan for the “team of the land of a billion people” in the encounter with the “War Elephants” on June 6.
Odds
In their recent 5 matches, China has had a rather poor record, with 1 loss and 3 draws. However, their situation improved when Branko Ivankovic’s team secured a 4-1 victory against Singapore in their most recent match. Currently, the Chinese national team has 7 points, ranking second in Group C behind South Korea. However, in the upcoming match against the “War Elephants,” the Chinese team will face personnel issues. Star player Wu Lei will be absent due to suspension. Wu Lei scored 2 goals and provided 1 assist against Singapore. He has scored a total of 5 goals, ranking second in the goal-scoring list in this qualifying round. To replace Wu Lei, Ivankovic may use Wei Shihao, a 29-year-old forward who performed well in the recent match against Thailand. He scored 6 goals in 6 matches for Chengdu Rongcheng and is also the second highest-scoring domestic player in the Chinese Super League this season. Additionally, Chinese defender Gao Zhunyi will also miss the match against Thailand due to appendicitis surgery. It is likely that Fernandinho, the naturalized player who scored a goal against Singapore, will be selected for the upcoming encounter with the “War Elephants.” Compared to China, Thailand has a poorer record with 2 losses and 3 draws in their last 5 matches. They recently suffered a 0-3 defeat to South Korea, currently ranking third in the group and trailing China by 3 points. To advance to the third qualifying round, they must defeat the “team of the land of a billion people.” Looking at their head-to-head record, it’s clear that the results do not favor Masatada Ishii’s team. In their last 5 encounters, the “Golden Temple team” has lost to China 4 times. Since 1978, the “Dragon team” has won 7, drawn 1, and only lost to Thailand once in 9 official matches. This explains why experts are confident in China’s victory over Thailand in this rematch, especially when they play at home.
Team News
China: Wu Lei will be absent due to suspension; defender Gao Zhunyi is unavailable due to appendicitis surgery. Wei Shihao, Fernandinho are chosen as replacements. Thailand: Full squad available.
EXPECTED LINEUP
Thailand: Khammai, Bunmathan, Tristan Do (Selanon, 75’), Hemviboon (Manuel Bihr, 36’), Anan (Deeromran, 63’), Chanathip (Panya, 75’), Yooyen, Phala (Jaide, 75’), Supachok Sarachat, Kaman, Mueanta. China: Yan Junling, Li Lei (Liu Yang, 60’), Zhang Linpeng, Jiang Shenglong, Zhu Chenjie, Wu Xi, Li Ke (Wang Shangyuan, 60’), Liu Binbin (Xie Pengfei, 46’), Fernandinho, Tan Long, Wei Shihao. Predicted score: China 2-0 Thailand. Asian handicap: China gives 0.5. Over/Under odds 2.5 FT: Under.
