Thailand kept a perfect record in Group B of the 2026 ASEAN Championship with a 1-0 win over the Philippines in New Clark City on Tuesday, while Myanmar beat Laos 7-2 in Yangon to strengthen their own semi-final hopes.
Waris Choolthong headed the only goal six minutes from time, taking the record seven-time champions to nine points from three matches.
How was the Thailand match decided?
Neither side created much until the closing stages. Picha Autra found space on the left and delivered a cross to the far post, where Waris steered a header back across goal and into the bottom corner beyond Patrick Deyto.
Tournament organisers noted that Thailand coach Anthony Hudson made eight changes to the side that beat Malaysia 2-0, leaving out both scorers from that match. Yotsakon Burapha, introduced from the bench, struck the crossbar nine minutes from time.
| Team | Pld | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand | 3 | 9 |
| Malaysia | 3 | 6 |
| Myanmar | 3 | 6 |
| Philippines | 3 | 3 |
| Laos | 3 | 0 |
Who leads Group B at the 2026 ASEAN Championship?
Thailand lead Group B of the 2026 ASEAN Championship with nine points from three matches after beating the Philippines 1-0 at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, on Tuesday 4 August 2026. Waris Choolthong scored with an 84th-minute header. Myanmar beat Laos 7-2 in Yangon on the same day, with Win Naing Tun scoring a hat-trick, moving level with Malaysia on six points. The Philippines are fourth on three points. Only the top two in each group advance to the two-legged semi-finals. The final round of Group B fixtures is played on Saturday 8 August, when Thailand host Myanmar and Malaysia play the Philippines in Kuala Lumpur. A draw against Myanmar would guarantee Thailand a place in the last four.
What happened in Yangon?
Myanmar took control late in the first half and finished with seven goals, Win Naing Tun completing a hat-trick. The win was tempered by a late red card for Maung Maung Lwin, who will miss the decisive fixture.
Coach Jorn Andersen said afterwards that his side would look to cause an upset against Thailand. Laos finish the group phase without a point.
What is still to play for?
Group B concludes on Saturday. Thailand host Myanmar, where a draw is enough to send the Thais through, while second-placed Malaysia face the Philippines in Kuala Lumpur. Only the top two advance.
ESPN reported the defeat left the Philippines three points behind both Malaysia and Myanmar. Carles Cuadrat’s side, semi-finalists five times, opened with a 4-1 loss to Myanmar before beating Laos by the same score.
Group A finishes on Friday, with Vietnam hosting Cambodia and Singapore meeting Indonesia.
How the group took shape
Thailand opened with a 5-0 win over Laos before beating Malaysia 2-0, results that gave them a goal difference of plus seven going into Tuesday. The win over the Philippines was their narrowest of the group.
Malaysia, champions in 2010, beat Myanmar 2-1 and Laos 4-0 before losing to Thailand. Myanmar’s heavy win over Laos lifted their goal difference sharply at the point where it may decide second place.
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Sources for this report
The Redline News Desk
The Redline News desk files and edits world reporting. Every story carries the sources it was built from, and corrections are published on the story itself.
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