Spain's Rodri celebrates with the trophy after winning the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Japan is preparing a joint bid with six other Asian countries to host the 2046 FIFA World Cup, bringing together nations from East Asia and Southeast Asia, according to the Japan Football Association (JFA).
The proposed bid would include Japan, South Korea and China from East Asia, along with Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore from Southeast Asia.
The JFA said the seven-nation proposal was based on the countries’ existing football infrastructure and stadium capacity.
Among the Southeast Asian candidates, Malaysia’s Bukit Jalil National Stadium can hold nearly 90,000 spectators, while Indonesia has two venues with capacities of more than 80,000 — Gelora Bung Karno Stadium and Jakarta International Stadium.
Thailand’s Rajamangala National Stadium has a capacity of around 70,000, while Singapore’s National Stadium can accommodate about 55,000 fans.
Vietnam was not included in the proposed bid, reportedly due to concerns over sports infrastructure. The country’s My Dinh National Stadium has a capacity of just over 40,000 and has faced criticism in recent years over its ageing condition and outdated design.
The 2046 World Cup is expected to follow an expanded format featuring at least 48 teams, a structure that will require larger stadiums, stronger transport networks and more extensive facilities.
FIFA is expected to begin the selection process for the 2046 host around 2031.
SISAKET — Families, local residents and security officials gathered on Wednesday to commemorate the first anniversary of a Cambodian rocket attack that killed eight people at a petrol station in Thailand’s border province of Sisaket.
A merit-making ceremony was held at the PTT petrol station in Ban Phue, Kantharalak district, where a BM-21 multiple rocket launcher strike hit on July 24, 2025, during the first day of armed clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces along the border.
The attack killed eight people, injured 13 others and caused extensive damage to the petrol station and nearby properties.
Buddhist monks chanted prayers and dedicated merit to those who lost their lives, as grieving relatives gathered to remember the victims and pray for lasting peace along the border.
Kamonrat Phonsettalerd, the owner of the petrol station, said the ceremony was held two days before the actual anniversary because monks were available on Wednesday. She said memories of the attack remain vivid and loud noises still leave her startled.
She said border communities continue to struggle to rebuild their livelihoods and remain concerned that fighting could erupt again. Residents have rehearsed evacuation plans and are prepared to leave immediately if authorities issue another warning.
Busaba Khamwang, the mother of one of the victims, said the pain of losing her son had not faded despite the passage of a year.
“No amount of assistance can replace my child,” she said, adding that her greatest wish is for the violence never to happen again.
Another survivor, Komsan Prachan, who lost his wife and two children in the attack, returned to the petrol station for the first time since the tragedy.
He said revisiting the site brought back painful memories of his family. Although he has received government compensation, he said no financial assistance could erase the loss, and urged that renewed fighting be avoided to spare others from similar suffering.
The Thai director of the Taiwan Documentary & Film Festival in Bangkok has alleged that diplomats from the Chinese Embassy sought to pressure organisers into removing the name and logo of Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture from the festival’s promotional materials.
“[On Monday], someone claiming to be an official from the Chinese Embassy called both cinemas hosting our film festival. They said they were uncomfortable seeing the logo of Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture and requested that we remove it,” organiser Thida Philtpolkarnpim told Khaosod English. She said the caller spoke Thai with a Chinese accent and became threatening, raising his voice when she refused to comply.
Thida Philtpolkarnpim
“Then today [Tuesday], another official from the Chinese Embassy went directly to one of the cinemas. Our team spoke with him, and he made the same request.”
The festival is co-organised by Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand (TECO Thailand) and other partners.
“We replied that we could not remove it because we are simply the organisers doing our job,” Thida said. “If they have any issues, we asked them to follow the proper procedures—either by speaking directly with Taiwan or through Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
She said the Chinese official remained outside the cinema for some time before leaving, telling organisers that he would report the matter to his superiors and seek to escalate it into a national-level issue.
Khaosod English contacted the Chinese Embassy on Wednesday morning and afternoon to ask about the alleged incident and why the embassy had not instead raised the matter through Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. No response had been received by the time of publication.
A staff member at TECO Thailand confirmed the incident to Khaosod English on Tuesday afternoon. The staff member said TECO representative Peter Lan would address the issue during his opening remarks at the festival’s launch at House Samyan at 18:00 on Wednesday.
Thida said she informed TECO Thailand of the incident on Tuesday and was told that if the Chinese Embassy wished to object officially, it could lodge a complaint with Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which would then communicate with the Taiwan office through established diplomatic channels.
She added that the festival had been held for seven years without incident before the alleged interference surrounding this year’s eighth edition.
Peter Lan, representative of Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in Thailand
The festival proceeded on Wednesday evening without further incident.
Peter Lan, representative of Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in Thailand was asked about the alleged attempted intervention by the Chinese Embassy and said “We have all the the supports from various partners. [There was] no call from [the Thai] Foreign Ministry,” he said, adding that Thailand has freedom of speech and freedom of expression.
As Phuket singer Nene Royal attracts international attention following her appearance on America’s Got Talent, another young musician who began performing on the island’s streets has continued building a career abroad.
Prapaporn “Fiat” Sreemoung, known by the stage name Queen On Street, became familiar to Thai and international visitors for her powerful vocals and electric-guitar performances.
Fiat began her musical journey as a street performer at the age of seven. With support from her father, Fu, who is also a singer and guitarist, she performed regularly alongside him at locations across Phuket and became a familiar presence on Bangla Road.
Between 2021 and 2022, Queen On Street gained significant attention online after videos of Fiat’s performances went viral. The clips showed large crowds gathering to watch her perform in Patong. At the time, she was only 13 years old and won praise online for her voice, confidence and guitar skills.
A screengrab from Queen On Street’s official YouTube channel shows her performing a cover of Miley Cyrus’s “Wrecking Ball”. At the time of writing, the video has more than 2.5 million views.
As her profile grew, Fiat began pursuing opportunities beyond Phuket, taking part in music events and competitions overseas. In June 2024, she won first place in an international music competition in Barcelona, Spain, according to posts on her official social-media page and subsequent Thai media reports.
She also travelled to Europe to develop new music projects, including recording sessions in Sweden, and released original English-language singles including “We, Me & I” and “U Can Have It All”. The projects marked her development from a young street performer into a recording artist pursuing audiences abroad.
One of Fiat’s notable performances was at the “Young Artists for Ukraine” concert in Sweden, where she performed alongside other young musicians from around the world.
Fiat no longer performs regularly at her former spot on Bangla Road as she increasingly pursues music projects overseas. However, her journey shows how Phuket’s street-performance culture can provide young musicians with an early stage on which to develop their talent and connect with audiences.
Fiat performs Papa Roach’s “Last Resort” in a video posted on her public Facebook page.
Like several other emerging musicians from Phuket, Fiat began by performing in public and building her skills within the local community. Her journey from Bangla Road to concerts, competitions and recording sessions abroad illustrates how a small street stage can become the starting point for a much larger musical career.
NAKHON RATCHASIMA — Archaeologists have uncovered remains of an Ayutthaya-era city wall in Nakhon Ratchasima, marking the first such discovery in the province in two decades.
The find was made during an archaeological excavation along Phon Lan Road on the eastern side of the historic city wall. The project is being carried out jointly by the Fine Arts Department’s Regional Office 10 in Nakhon Ratchasima and the Nakhon Ratchasima Municipality.
Officials said the wall was found more than two meters below ground level and represents a significant archaeological breakthrough for the area.
Nakhon Ratchasima, commonly known as Korat, has long been regarded as one of Thailand’s most heavily fortified historic cities, with a carefully planned layout that included moats, fortifications, gates and watchtowers.
Archaeologists believe the original city wall began as an earthen embankment constructed during the reign of King Maha Chakkraphat of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Brick fortifications were later added during the reign of King Narai the Great.
Historical records indicate the city wall stretched approximately 1.7 kilometers from east to west and about 1 kilometer from north to south, with a wall crest measuring around 2-3 meters in thickness.
Officials said further studies will be conducted to better understand the structure and its historical significance.
BANGKOK — The Airport Rail Link has reduced train services after a technical issue affected operations at its depot, with repairs still ongoing more than 10 hours later.
In an announcement at 5:03, Airport Rail Link said a problem with the reversing track at its depot had prevented the system from operating its full train service.
The service has been temporarily reduced to a single train, running approximately once every hour.
The operator said the issue does not affect passenger safety and that engineering and technical teams are working to restore normal operations as soon as possible.
Passengers have been advised to consider alternative public transportation options during the disruption.
Airport Rail Link apologized for the inconvenience and said updates would be provided through its official communication channels.
As of more than 10 hours after the initial announcement, normal service had not yet resumed.
NONTHABURI — 22 July 2026, A woman who went viral after claiming she was sexually harassed by a motorcycle taxi driver following a Korean artist’s concert has been exposed after her sister clarified that she has a mental health condition.
The controversy began after the woman posted a video on social media claiming that, after attending JAY B’s fan-meeting event at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani, she hailed a motorcycle taxi to take her to a hotel 4 kilometres away.
The woman updated her followers, saying she was still at the hospital and had not yet returned to her accommodation. She apologised for not replying to messages, explaining that she had only just been able to check her phone. She said the situation was complicated and that she would share more details the following day, while thanking everyone for their concern and expressing gratitude to Jay B.
She alleged that the driver took a shortcut through an isolated route and touched her thigh twice without consent. She said she became frightened, recorded a video on her phone and decided to jump off the moving motorcycle, resulting in injuries that required nine stitches.
She also showed photos of her injuries, causing the post to go viral and receive more than 10 million views. Korean artist JAY B, after learning about the incident, posted messages asking about her condition early on: “Did you sleep well? Where are you?” Fans also expressed concern.
After fans later grew suspicious and investigated the truth, they found that the incident was fabricated by the woman’s own imagination. This later led them to accompany the motorcycle taxi driver to file a daily record at Pak Kret Police Station and review CCTV footage.
Recently, at 19:00 on 21 July, at Pak Kret Police Station, a 56-year-old security guard who works as a motorcycle taxi driver in Muang Thong Thani met police following a phone call from the woman’s older sister requesting mediation and offering compensation to take responsibility for the damage caused to the rider, who had been vilified by the online community.
The motorcycle taxi rider said that on the night of the incident, 12 July, the woman walked over to hail him to take her to her hotel. By that time, the concert crowd had mostly left. She told him to take her to a hotel on Chaeng Watthana Road, Soi 21. He drove her there, unaware of her mental health condition, and decided to take a shortcut along the road running parallel to Bang Phut Canal.
He explained that he chose the shortcut because the main route would have meant a long detour of 8 kilometres, whereas the shortcut reduced the distance to just 2 kilometres and also saved her money on the fare. He said the normal route would have cost 200 baht or more due to the detours and distant U-turns, while taking the shortcut brought the fare down to only 80 baht.
That day, he only charged her an 80-baht fare, but she gave him 100 baht. He said he even complimented her, telling her she was not only beautiful and kind.
At first, he said he had no idea she had posted about him, causing damage to him. However, Muang Thong Thani’s security centre found out, as the post had become a massive viral trend with millions of views and countless comments. Since he does not use social media, Muang Thong called him in to investigate the facts. He said he did not do anything he was accused of, adding that his motorcycle had a clutch and the path they took was very narrow—only about 80 centimetres to 1 metre wide. If he had driven with only one hand, they would have fallen off the bridge.
The Muang Thong centre later advised him to file a police report as evidence on 19 July.
After that, the woman’s older sister contacted him and explained that her younger sister was ill and had a mental health condition, asking him not to take the matter personally. She arranged the meeting at the police station today to seek reconciliation.
The driver said he does not hold any resentment against her and can forgive her if she is truly sick, adding that he always remains positive and is a kind-hearted person. If they can reach an agreement, he will not pursue this any further and is ready to forgive. However, regarding the posts and the backlash that damaged him, he said an apology is necessary because what she posted about him was completely untrue. Posting such fabrications had caused damage to him.
He added that if the mediation goes well, he is ready to forgive her. He planned to donate the compensation money to make merit by buying food for dogs, cats and people in need.
Initially, both sides remain in the process of scheduling a meeting with officials at the Pak Kret Police Station’s Mediation Center to negotiate compensation. However, if an agreement cannot be reached, further legal action may be pursued under the charge of entering false information into a computer system.
Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited (AIS) is strategically advancing its position as the No. 1 destination for sports, ready to shake up the Thai football content industry once again by announcing a major partnership with UC3 to become the exclusive Official Broadcaster of UEFA men’s club competitions in Thailand. The broadcasting rights also cover Laos and Cambodia for a four-year period, spanning the 2027/28 to 2030/31 seasons. This agreement allows football fans to watch the “UEFA Champions League”—Europe’s grandest and most prestigious football tournament—along with the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, UEFA Super Cup, and UEFA Youth League via AIS PLAY. Featuring live broadcasts, highlights, and full-match replays, the platform ensures fans never miss a crucial moment from all 5 competitions. This milestone reinforces AIS’s vision of delivering world-class sports content to provide Thai fans with the ultimate viewing experience, making AIS PLAY the exclusive home for global sports content.
Mr. Pratthana Leelapanang, Chief Executive Officer of AIS, stated, “I am incredibly proud and delighted that we have successfully to bring the greatest UEFA men’s club competitions to AIS customers and Thai football fans. We believe that tournaments like the UEFA Champions League, along with the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League, are highly followed by Thai fans. These competitions bring together top-tier clubs and superstar players from renowned European leagues such as the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, and French Ligue 1 battling it out to be crowned number one on the continent. Furthermore, they are filled with the magic and the most thrilling stories in the global footballing world.”
“This strategic partnership is made possible by the strength of our digital network and the capabilities of AIS PLAY as the country’s number one sports content hub. When combined with our existing portfolio of other world-class sports rights, fans will be able to immerse themselves in the ultimate sports viewing experience and will undoubtedly be able to enjoy premium sport throughout the week during the season on AIS PLAY.”
Securing these monumental European football rights reaffirms AIS PLAY’s leadership as a comprehensive entertainment hub that meets all consumer needs. The platform continues to expand its content offerings to encompass all lifestyles, delivering the ultimate premium sports experience that Thai fans have been eagerly awaiting. AIS PLAY will serve as the sole primary channel gathering all the action from these tournaments for Thai viewers. To ensure a flawless experience, AIS PLAY has fully equipped its broadcasting technology and systems to support premium, long-term service delivery across all four seasons.
PHUKET — A group of foreign tourists were caught on video trading punches in Phuket’s famous Soi Bangla in Patong early on July 22, 2026, following a night of drinking and socialising.
The incident reportedly took place at around 02:00 on July 22 in Bangla Soi, Pa Tong subdistrict, Kathu district, according to the Phuket Times Facebook page, which shared footage of the brawl.
The video shows several foreign tourists arguing before the confrontation escalated into a physical fight, prompting panic among people in the area.
Shop staff and both Thai and foreign tourists rushed to intervene and separate those involved to prevent the situation from escalating further.
The page captioned the footage: “Some exciting sports action at Bangla Stadium after 02:00 last night. They’re fighting among themselves.”
The video quickly attracted attention online, with many users sharing the footage and jokingly referring to the area as “Bangla Stadium.”
Comments included jokes such as, “Bangla Stadium: the meeting point for testing strength and madness,” while another user suggested setting up a proper ring with energetic music for the “show.”
Others joked that the fight looked like a street boxing match and questioned why the tourists did not simply go to one of Patong’s boxing stadiums instead.
The incident has also prompted discussion online about the image of Phuket’s popular tourist destination.
A New Zealand teenager accused of stealing a watch at a Thai airport has been released on bail and reunited with his mother after spending days in custody, according to New Zealand media outlet Stuff.
Loukas Rainger, 18, was granted bail of 100,000 baht (about NZ$5,070) after being arrested over allegations that he took a woman’s Swatch watch during a security screening at Surat Thani Airport on July 3.
According to his mother, Natasha Rainger, the watch was left in a security tray alongside his belongings. She said Loukas told her he picked it up and put it in his pocket, but later realized he should have handed it to airport staff.
“He’s inexperienced, young,” Natasha told Stuff, adding that her son had been sick after a long boat trip before the incident and made a mistake.
Loukas was stopped by immigration officers at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on 16 July while preparing to fly home after a month-long trip in Thailand. Authorities told him there was an arrest warrant related to the alleged theft.
Thai legal documents seen by Stuff stated that Loukas denied all charges during questioning. The alleged offence, classified as theft at an airport, carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison.
After his release, Loukas was reunited with his mother, who said he had spent time in solitary confinement, lost about 10kg and had his head shaved while in custody.
The family remains in Thailand as Loukas awaits a court hearing scheduled for September. He is required to report to authorities every two weeks and cannot leave the country during the legal process.
Natasha said the woman who filed the complaint had since wanted to drop the charges, but the case has continued through the legal system.
