Whether you’re an expat living and working in Thailand or a visitor enjoying a holiday in the Land of Smiles, you might be considering attending a football match. Although there are plenty of options, especially in and around Bangkok, it can be confusing to find information on how to go about it. Read on for the best help!
Website Assistance
Like most football-playing countries, Thailand has a national league system, where the most successful clubs can progress to play in AFC (Asian Football Confederation) and ASEAN competitions. Thailand has domestic leagues and the FA Cup, the national team, and plenty of amateur football for those wanting a grassroots fix.
Let’s go through them so that you can be pointed in the right direction.
The Thai League website is the place to go for all domestic football. It’s not the easiest site to navigate, but the drop-down menus lead to the league and cup fixtures, venues, and even squad lists and statistics. One slight word of caution: it can sometimes be slow to update.
Once you find a fixture that appeals, I suggest checking out the social media pages of the clubs involved. Facebook is usually the best source, with all clubs having a page. If you cannot find it, use a translation tool and copy and paste its Thai name into the search box.
The AFC and ASEAN have websites that display fixtures, highlights and general information, providing insight into what’s going on, in addition to the clubs’ own pages. Whenever there’s a break for international fixtures anywhere in the world, the Thai team are also likely to be in action. Mainstream football fixture and scores apps can also help to find the details.
Amateur competitions in Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima are for anyone wanting to experience what grassroots football is like in Thailand. Admission is usually free. Occasionally, there might be a minimal charge. Many venues sell drinks and some local food.
Another great way to stay in touch and get a feel for the Thai game is to listen to a weekly edition of A Thai Football Podcast.
Finding the Stadium
Now you know how to find the fixtures; how do you find the stadiums?
Anyone in a provincial town or city can easily find a stadium by checking the league website against a map app, or by checking the team’s Facebook page. Asking a local can be just as easy, as a local club in these locations is often a source of pride and can sometimes be the main source of entertainment.
Anyone in the Bangkok area can use my Bangkok Stadiums by Public Transport guide if you want to go local without the hassle of explaining where you want to go to a taxi driver. Another guide offers Matchday Bar & Food Tips if you want to make the most of your day out.
Of course, taxi apps allow you to enter your destination to make getting to a game easier. Please allow plenty of time when heading to a game around Bangkok. It’s a huge city with brutal traffic congestion.
One huge advantage of setting off early is arriving at a stadium well before kick-off. I highly recommend doing this to get the feel for the occasion, meet people and make new friends. Most stadiums have vendors outside selling food and beer, with chairs and tables laid out.
Rather than being charged more for refreshments, as at many Western events, you will find prices comparable to local bars and restaurants. Sometimes even cheaper. Supporters often play local music outside, while those who bang the drums and stoke up the fans through their megaphones get into the mood, adding to the atmosphere.
It doesn’t matter which side you support, or if you are there as a neutral. Everyone mixes without a hint of animosity. In my experience, Thais want to talk and drink with you. Inside the stadium, they are as passionate as they come, berating the officials and getting behind their team.
A feature you might find unusual is the respect shown to the opponents at full-time. Both teams go to greet both sets of supporters and thank them. Fans of one club chant the name of the opposing team and applaud them before singing the club anthem with their club’s players, who then pose for a huge group photo for their socials.
Tickets and Prices
So, what about tickets and their prices?
Tickets, apart from a rare couple of fixtures, can be bought by simply turning up outside and purchasing them from one of the huts outside the stadium. A few of the big clubs sell them online in advance.
You can pay anything from 50 THB (£1.10) for Thai League 3 (T3) games up to 200 THB (£5.50) for games in Thai League 1 (T1).
Something to be aware of, and something I vehemently disagree with, is that those using the sections for away fans are charged more than home supporters. That said, the tickets are relatively inexpensive, and the whole experience means that even if the game is poor, the time spent isn’t wasted.
The YouTube video below, previewing the 2026-27 season, offers lots more insight, including a guide to the teams and my predictions for promotion and relegation.
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