The World Cup 2018 in mind and an eye toward the Asian Cup 2019. Or even vice versa. It might depend on the angle of view. But at the bottom line, the result is the same. For the first time since over a decade Thailand is back among Asia's elite. And will be there for the next three years at least.

At the moment when Abdulrahman Al-Jassimden blew his whistle for the last time into the evening night of Teheran on the 23 March, the surprise was perfect. Although Iraq just scored seconds ago before the final whistle, to draw 2-2 with Thailand, it could not alter the fact: Without defeat, Thailand secured winning of Group F and qualified for the 2019 Asian Championships and the final qualifying round to the World Cup 2018 in Russia.

Thailand's two representatives in the qualification for the AFC Champions League 2016 will start their campaign this Tuesday. While Chonburi will meet a side they have crossed swords before, Muang Thong will meet the AFC Cup Champion 2015.

1-1 and 1-0 were the result four years ago when Chonburi FC and Yangon United have met. At that time, in the AFC Cup and during the group stage. Now both sides to meet for the first time in the AFC Champions League. Although only in the prelimanary round. A modification of the system, which the Asian Federation has introduced recently to give more Nations the opportunity to be part of the continents premier club competition, makes this possible. At the same time, the third-class AFC Presidents Cup was abolished.

A while ago we have asked Peter Reeves to give us his thoughts on the Thai national team. Some of the followers of Thai Football may know him and his columns mainly from Dale Farrington's Chonburi FC Webpage. Usually his columns are long reads, and so is this one. So we decided to split this column for us in two pieces. However, to cut a long story short, here is our guest column by Peter Reeves.

So how are the national team doing? Well, there is a lot of excitement and confidence in the country and the dream is alive and kicking about the possibility of qualifying for the World Cup in Russia, if there is one, but is that confidence misplaced? Reality and dreams are worlds apart.

The new season of the Regional League begins in a few weeks. Since last weeks draw it is known how each of the six groups look like.

The most exciting thing before each season in Thai football is not about what Thai Premier League club signs which foreign player, what player is moving somewhere or where will be a new coach unveiled in the top League. It is rather about how the six divisions of the Regional League will look like. Going hand in hand so, which club has been kicked out, which one is newly added, who has been taken over or got renamed.

When Thailand kicks off his 2016 AFC U-23 Championship campaign to battle for a ticket to Rio 2016, you don't know really what to expect. Are they really a dark horse or will they be already eliminated after the group stage? A ticket for Rio, however, seems out of reach.

Of course, the question can only be answered at the earliest when the group stage is played. But from an early exit, to a surprisingly good tournament, everything is possible for Thailand's U-23. But many things must fit together. The preconditions are not bad. But there are also doubts.