Hataichanok Tappakun imagined her 37-year-old self serving in the Royal Thai Armed Forces under King of Thailand, Vajiralongkorn. Though she does serve in the Thai military, it’s one on courts – and one she serves as undisputed queen.
Hataichanok was, after all, the first Thai female to turn pro and play abroad, and is the national team’s all-time record appearance-maker, captain, inspiration and girl for the big occasion. The fixo reaped her biggest royalty in May, with her goal helping the Chaba-Kaew Toh Lek edge China PR 3-2 in Hohhot and qualify for the first FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup™.
Hataichanok discusses that “indescribable” feeling, Thailand’s big ambitions at Philippines 2025 and why she ordered her mother to stay away from her matches.
Hataichanok Tappakun: It all started with a phone call back when I was in secondary school. Coach Sombat Rodthong reached out and asked me to travel from my hometown in Roi-Et to Bangkok for a major tournament, the To Be Number One Futsal Cup. That experience opened up a new world for me. On the recommendation of coach Rungrueang Methakulvanit, I moved to study in high school and play at Rajprachasamasai School. That path led directly to a trial for the national team. I was fortunate enough to be selected for the 2005 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, which Thailand hosted. Making it to the final was an incredible achievement, but the loss to Uzbekistan was a tough lesson. We were so close, and with significant prize money on the line. It was a heartbreaking finish. But that fire and that disappointment really fuelled my career from that day forward.
Honestly, I’ve never really seen myself as the ‘first professional female futsal player’. At that time, my focus was entirely on my education. Futsal, for me, was the key that unlocked that door. It was the vehicle that allowed me to pursue a university degree, which was my ultimate goal. Thanks to futsal, I earned a scholarship to Bangkok Thonburi University under coach Bunlert Charoenwong, and my position on the national team later gave me the chance to earn another scholarship for my Master’s degree. So what I’m truly proud of is how this sport empowered me. It allowed me to get a great education, support my family and build a stable future for myself. That achievement, made possible by playing the game I love, means everything to me.
That match was pure emotion and willpower. When we were down and defending against their power play, the message on the court was simple: we do not concede again. I looked at my team-mates and told them, ‘We have to do whatever it takes. We are not losing this.’ During the half-time break, that was my only message. I kept repeating, ‘We have to win. We cannot let this opportunity slip away.’ For me, it felt like my last chance to make it to a World Cup. I’m getting older and the window was closing. To not only come back and win 3-2 but to achieve our ultimate goal of qualifying… that feeling was indescribable. We didn’t just win a game; we won our dream.
Agonizing is the right word. It’s not something I regret, because we left everything we had on that court, but it was absolutely heartbreaking. The opportunity was right there in front of us – we could almost touch the trophy, but it remained just out of reach. To fight that hard through a final and have it all decided by the lottery of a penalty shootout is a brutal way to lose. They handled the pressure moments better, and that was the difference.
Those performances give us immense confidence. Going into the tournament, we knew our group was tough, especially with a powerhouse like Japan. My role as a senior player was to constantly reinforce the belief in the squad. I kept telling my team-mates that we weren’t just there to compete; we were there to win the group. We knew that finishing first in the group would give us a more favourable path in the knockout stages and build momentum. Beating Japan proved to ourselves what we’re capable of, and pushing them to the absolute limit in the final confirmed it. We now know we can go head to head with the best teams in Asia and win.
(Smiles) You couldn’t have picked a better person to ask about. She has been my room-mate ever since she joined the national team, so we’re incredibly close. As a player, she is, without a doubt, the future leader of this team. She has the talent, vision and work ethic to be the main force for the next generation. I have no doubt she will lead the team to great success, and I’ll always be her biggest supporter, pushing her to achieve everything she’s capable of.
Our first target is to go out there and leave everything on the court in every single match. We want to play with no regrets. But make no mistake, we aren’t just going there to participate. We’re a confident group and we’re dreaming big. We want to push as far as we possibly can and show the world what Thai futsal is all about. We believe we can surprise a few people.
(Laughs) Unfortunately not. My mom surprised me at a stadium once, and while I loved the gesture, it made me so nervous! I told her, ‘Thank you, but maybe not again!’ She’s also getting older now, so traveling isn’t as easy for her. My family and friends will be much more comfortable, and probably louder, watching on TV back home. Knowing I have their full support from afar is all the motivation I need.
After serving the national team for over 20 years, hearing our anthem never gets old. Every single time, I feel that same surge of excitement, happiness and overwhelming pride. It gives you goosebumps. I have a personal philosophy: I play every single game as if it’s my last for Thailand. That’s how I focus and give my absolute best. To have that moment on the world’s biggest stage, knowing the whole world is watching… that feeling will be more powerful than ever. It will be the ultimate honour.
It’s incredibly difficult to single out one player, because the best teams play with such amazing chemistry. For me, you have to look at Brazil. As a unit, they are just on another level. I remember we played a friendly against them in Spain years ago, and their movement, skill, and teamwork was a masterclass. They beat us 14-0 and it was an important lesson. That said, the World Cup will be the true proving ground. I’m excited to see which individuals rise to the occasion when the pressure is at its highest. Ask me again after the final!
To be the best, you have to compete against the best, so we aren’t looking to avoid anyone. The moment we knew we qualified for the World Cup, our mindset shifted. We are prepared and ready to face any team the draw gives us. Every opponent offers a different challenge and a different style, and playing against them at this level is the only way we will grow. Each match is an opportunity to gain invaluable experience that will help develop Thai futsal for years to come.
Without a doubt, he is a massive inspiration for the younger generation of players who are starting their journey in futsal. What he’s achieved is incredible. For me personally, I grew up in a futsal family alongside legends like Suphawut Thueanklang and Kritsada Wongkaeo. They were the ones who inspired my generation and showed us what was possible. It’s wonderful to see players like Osamanmusa now carrying that torch and inspiring the next wave of talent.
Right now, my entire focus is on this World Cup. But I have certainly put a lot of thought into building a stable future where I can continue to take care of my family after I retire from playing. My desire has always been to serve my nation. I believe a career as a government officer, perhaps within the military, would suit both my personality and my educational background. It feels like a natural next step, a way to continue representing my country, just in a different capacity.
Honestly, there were times I wondered if a moment like this would ever come. To have played for so long, waiting and hoping for this tournament to be established… it’s surreal. This is the opportunity I have been waiting for my entire professional life, and for it to finally be here is a dream come true. I am so incredibly grateful to FIFA for creating this platform and giving women’s futsal the global stage it deserves. This is a historic and beautiful moment for the sport.
📸 Photos courtesy of the AFC
