TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s hopes of advancing to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup ended on Tuesday after the men’s national soccer team suffered a 6-1 defeat to Thailand at Taipei Stadium, per CNA.

It was Taiwan’s fourth consecutive loss in Asian Cup qualifying, leaving the team at the bottom of Group D, which also includes Turkmenistan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The defeat dropped Taiwan to 173rd in FIFA’s world rankings. The team’s lowest-ever ranking was 191 in June 2016, and currently, 211 national teams are ranked.

Before kickoff, Taiwan still had an outside chance of advancing from the group stage, but those hopes were dashed early as Thailand took a 3-0 lead in the first half. Taiwan’s lone goal came in the opening minute of the second half when Kuo Bo-wei (郭博瑋), making his first international start, struck from outside the penalty area to the delight of home fans, briefly drowning out a large contingent of Thai supporters.

The match also marked one of the final appearances for 37-year-old captain Chen Po-liang (陳柏良), who has announced plans to retire after achieving 100 international appearances. Chen led several attacks in the first half, showcasing the team’s fighting spirit despite the mounting deficit.

However, Taiwan’s defense faltered in the second half. This allowed Thailand’s Teerasak Poeiphimai to complete a hat trick as the visitors cruised to a commanding win.

Speaking after the match, Chen said the team’s aggressive approach left them exposed defensively. “At home, we wanted to attack more, so our defense became vulnerable. We worked hard to follow the coach’s tactics because we wanted to score.”

Chen added that although the result was disappointing, he was proud of the team’s effort. “At least everyone fought hard on offense,” he said. “But the level of competition in Taiwan’s domestic league makes it difficult for us to keep up with other countries internationally.”