.png)
5 Mar 2026
Top U14 Team to Represent Thailand at the Gothia Cup in Sweden
Bangkok, Thailand — [4 March 2026] — SKF, a global leader in bearing and rotating technology solutions, today announced its continued commitment to developing youth football in Thailand as the main sponsor of the Meet the World Thailand Tournament – B14 2026, the national U14 (11-a-side) football championship. The winning team of the tournament will earn the prestigious opportunity to represent Thailand at the Gothia Cup in Sweden, one of the world’s largest and most inclusive international youth football tournaments.
First launched in 1981 under the philosophy “to be a meeting place for young people of the world, regardless of colour, gender, or religion”, the Gothia Cup embodies values that align strongly with SKF’s commitment to fostering ambition, diversity, and opportunities for the next generation.
A Shared Vision with the Embassy of Sweden
The Embassy of Sweden joined the launch to highlight the tournament’s significance as a bridge between the two nations. Representatives from the Embassy noted that the Gothia Cup is one of Sweden’s proudest international traditions, reflecting core national values of inclusion, fair play, and gender equality.
"Sport has a unique ability to build understanding across borders," the Embassy stated. "This collaboration is yet another example of the long-standing and growing people-to-people ties between Sweden and Thailand—a relationship built on trust, shared values, and a commitment to creating opportunities for young people."
The Embassy also commended SKF’s Gothia Cup initiative as a showcase of their commitment to Thai society, one that extends far beyond their world-class industrial contributions to Thailand’s transportation and manufacturing sectors.
Driving Youth Development Through Sport
As the tournament’s main sponsor, SKF plays a pivotal role in supporting the recruitment and nationwide selection of Thailand’s most talented U14 football team players born in 2012. This nationwide effort identifies outstanding football academies and celebrates youth who demonstrate skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
The tournament’s top-performing team will advance to the Gothia Cup 2026 in Sweden, where they will compete on an international stage alongside thousands of young players from more than 70 countries.
SKF’s Commitment to Thai Youth
Speaking on the initiative, MD-SKF Thailand, Tawiwat Reongpunyaroj said “At SKF, we believe in creating opportunities that allow young people to grow, dream, and challenge themselves on a global stage. The Meet the World Thailand Tournament reflects our commitment to nurturing the potential of Thai youth through the power of sport. We are proud to support a platform where passion, discipline, and teamwork can take promising young athletes all the way from local fields to an international arena like the Gothia Cup.”
He further added, “This programme is more than a sponsorship; it is an investment in the future of young Thai athletes. By creating platforms that promote discipline, unity, and international exposure, SKF aims to empower youth with experiences that extend beyond the football pitch”.
Engaging Partners and Opening Doors
The Meet the World programme is supported through collaborations with key partners, including ARi Football and Sportech Pro from Thailand’s football and entertainment industries who will participate as celebrity team managers bringing excitement and inspiration to young players.
The tournament also offers unique sponsorship opportunities, with multiple packages designed to bring brands closer to Thailand’s football community.
A Global Stage Awaits Thailand’s Rising Stars
By supporting Thailand’s road to the Gothia Cup, SKF continues its long-standing mission of enabling young people to meet, compete, and grow through the universal language of sport. The Meet the World Thailand Tournament – B14 2026 not only strengthens grassroots football development but also provides Thai youth with life-changing international exposure.
About SKF
Since 1907, SKF has been making some of the world’s most innovative bearings, seals, lubrication systems, condition monitoring solutions, and services to reduce friction. Less friction means more energy saved and by reducing it, we make industry smarter, more competitive, and more energy efficient, building a more sustainable future where we can all do more with less. SKF is represented in approximately 130 countries and has around 17,000 distributor locations worldwide. Annual sales in 2024 were SEK 98,722 million and the number of employees was 38,743. www.skf.com
® SKF is a registered trademark of the SKF Group.