Thai Football Association Renews Stadium Turf After 26 Years – Here’s Why

Son Heung Min, a distinguished football star from South Korea, has garnered significant attention in Thailand. His esteemed reputation has prompted a comprehensive overhaul of the turf at a Thai soccer stadium.

In anticipation of the 2026 FIFA North Central America World Cup, a football match occurred at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium on the evening of the 26th. This fixture constituted part of the 2026 North Central America World Cup Asia 2nd Preliminary Round C Group 4th round. South Korea, led by interim coach Hwang Sun-hong, faced off against the Thai home team.

The third round of these qualifiers took place in Seoul, where South Korea, having drawn 1-1, aimed for victory in the away game.

On the 25th, OSEN reported that they were the first to step onto the turf of the Rajamangala Stadium before the national team’s final training session. They expressed that the experience was much more gratifying than merely seeing it in photos, likening it to walking on a red carpet.

Recently, the football association announced that it had invested hundreds of millions of won to completely renovate the stadium, from the drainage facilities to the foundational construction. It also disclosed that it had conducted the first-ever complete replacement of the stadium turf since 1998. As a result, the players participating in the match on the 26th would have the opportunity to experience the pristine new turf firsthand, as no matches had been played on it since its replacement.

A representative from the Thailand Football Association explained the reason for the complete turf replacement, stating, “Last year, when Tottenham came to play an away game, the match was interrupted due to heavy rainfall. There was a crisis in Thailand, and Sonny might never come to Thailand again. Subsequently, a significant budget was invested to refurbish the ground thoroughly.”

As the official mentioned, Tottenham’s visit to Bangkok for a game against Leicester City at the Rajamangala Stadium was announced in July last year.

However, just before the match, heavy rain poured down, causing the ground to quickly become waterlogged. This prompted the organizers to cancel the game and refund all tickets, among other measures.

Footage from that time reveals water pooling on the stadium’s turf, causing the ball not to bounce and instead stop in its tracks.

During that time, Son Heung Min wholeheartedly engaged in fan service despite being caught in the rain, smiling and waving to Thai fans individually. His exemplary manners deeply touched the hearts of the Thai people.

It appears that Son Heung Min’s positive demeanor resonated with the Thai Football Association, motivating them to undertake the complete replacement of the turf with the determination to ensure that, upon Son Heung Min’s return to the stadium, there would be no risk of game cancellations due to waterlogged grounds.

With Son Heung Min elected captain for the match between Thailand and South Korea on the 26th, Thailand had the opportunity to provide him with a stage to inspect the new turf directly.

Due to the previous cancellation of Tottenham’s match due to rain, it was reported that Son Heung Min playing directly in Thailand for this qualifying match is a first. A representative from the Thailand Football Association expressed, “With the turf in excellent condition, we anticipate Son Heung Min being able to showcase his best performance.”

The Football Association official stated that alongside the complete replacement of the turf, maintenance work on the foundational infrastructure had been carried out, enabling the field to drain within 10 minutes, even during heavy rainfall.

The substantial presence of 74 Thai media outlets at the stadium to witness the final training session of the South Korean national team suggests that Korean players are highly popular in Thailand. Reports indicated that the Korean national team received treatment akin to esteemed guests, with large crowds gathering around the team bus to glimpse the players as they departed.

On the 26th, at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Thailand, the 2026 FIFA North Central America World Cup Asia 2nd Preliminary Round C Group 4th match unfolded, with South Korea securing a comprehensive victory over Thailand with a score of 3-0. Lee Jae Sung scored the opening goal in the 19th minute of the first half, Son Heung Min’s additional goal in the 10th minute of the second half, and Park Jin-sub’s decisive goal in the 37th minute of the second half.

During the broadcast, the appearance of BLACKPINK’s Lisa garnered explosive reactions.

Lisa, a Thai native active in Korea, was seen holding a towel bearing the flags of both Thailand and Korea, cheering for both countries simultaneously. Netizens responded with comments such as “true fair-minded support” and “sensible.”

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