National coach Akira Nishino is expected to return from Japan next month, the Football Association of Thailand said yesterday.
Nishino has been with his family in his home country for months as he could not enter Thailand due to travel restrictions imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Thai government has now allowed certain groups of people to fly into the country.
FAT secretary-general Patit Supaphong said yesterday the organisation is working with the Thai authorities for about 80 foreign players and coaches, including Nishino, to return to the country.
He said the FAT had already submitted required documents to parties concerned and Nishino's entry should be approved soon.
However, flights from Japan have been fully booked until Aug 7, Patit said.
He said the 65-year-old coach should arrive in Thailand by mid-August.
After that he will have to enter state quarantine for 14 days and be able to begin preparing his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers by the end of next month, Patit said.
The War Elephants host Indonesia on Oct 8, travel to the United Arab Emirates on Nov 12, and are at home to Malaysia on Nov 17 in their remaining games in Group G of Asia's second qualifying round for the 2022 World Cup.
Eight group winners and four best runners-up advance to the next stage.
After five games, Vietnam have 11 points, ahead of Malaysia (nine) and Thailand (eight). The UAE have six points with a game in hand while Indonesia are still chasing their first point.
Malaysia to host ACL games
Malaysia will host two groups in the coronavirus-hit AFC Champions League, organisers said, although two more pools in Asia's premier football competition remain without a home.
After Qatar agreed to host all four groups in the West region, Malaysia has stepped in to stage East zone groups G and H, featuring teams from Japan, China, South Korea and Australia, as well as Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim.
The ACL, on hold since the pandemic wiped out international sport in March, will resume on Sept 14 in Qatar with the games in Malaysia starting on Oct 17.
However, "the centralised venue for the AFC Champions League groups E and F as well as the remaining knockout stage matches are yet to be confirmed", an Asian Football Confederation statement said.
Groups E and F include teams from Japan, China, South Korea, Australia and Thailand (Chiang Rai United).
All knockout ties will be played in a single match, rather than home and away, and the final will also be a one-off game. bangkok post/afp