Russia won the Kahouze Hua Hin World Cup on Sunday after edging hosts Thailand in a dramatic final decided by penalties, bringing the two-day international amateur football tournament at Arena Hua Hin 2 to a close.
The final, played on Sunday afternoon, ended in a sudden-death penalty shoot-out after a tightly contested match between Russia and Thailand finished 1-1 at the end of normal time. With both teams locked together throughout the game, the outcome was only settled after extra spot-kicks, securing Russia the title and leaving Thailand as runners-up in front of a strong local crowd.
Finland claimed third place after defeating Ireland in the third–fourth place play-off, which was also decided by penalties following a 3–3 draw, highlighting the fine margins across the knockout stages. Sweden finished fifth after beating Germany in the fifth–sixth place match.
Two days of international amateur football in Hua Hin
Now in its 13th year, the Kahouze Hua Hin World Cup is regarded as one of Thailand’s leading amateur football tournaments and continues to attract teams and supporters from across the region and overseas. This year’s edition featured more than 250 players from Thailand and abroad, competing on FIFA-standard 7-a-side grass pitches at Arena Hua Hin Soccer Pitch Branch 2 over 13–14 December.
Sixteen teams were divided into two groups of eight for the group stage, with each side playing seven matches in a round-robin format on Saturday. Group A featured Russia, China, Nippon, Germany, Ireland, Denmark, Jersey Island and Finland, while Group B included South Africa, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Thailand, Belgium, Japan and Hong Kong.
Group matches were played throughout Saturday, followed by knockout fixtures on Sunday morning and afternoon. The top four teams from each group progressed to the main World Cup knockout rounds, while teams finishing fifth to eighth competed in the Plate competition.
Russia advanced steadily through the tournament before overcoming Thailand in the final, while Finland’s campaign included a tense quarter-final win over Sweden, decided on penalties after a 3–3 draw, setting the tone for a day marked by close contests and shoot-outs.
In the Plate competition, Denmark lifted the Plate World Cup title after defeating Hong Kong 3–1 in the final. China finished third in the Plate standings, followed by the Netherlands, with Nippon and South Africa completing the rankings.
Organisers said the event again delivered sporting and social value for the city, with visiting teams, families and supporters contributing to an estimated economic impact of between 4 million and 5 million baht for Hua Hin over the weekend.
The tournament also had a charitable element, helping to raise over 27,000 baht for Jungle Aid, a local organisation supporting vulnerable people and communities in the region.
Thomas Andersson, founder of the tournament and a representative of the Viking Club Hua Hin, has previously said the competition has grown steadily since its launch in 2013, becoming a regular fixture on the amateur football calendar. The tournament is known for combining competitive football with a strong sense of community, reflected in its long-standing motto: Stay Fit, Have Fun, Be Social.
You can see the results for the tournament here.
