Bahrain withdrew after changes to its coaching staff and adjustments to its international match schedule. The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) then offered the vacant spot to Brunei, which is widely regarded as the weakest of the four teams.

FIFA rankings show Brunei at 196th, which is 99 places below Bahrain. The 52nd King’s Cup will feature Thailand, Oman, Tajikistan and Brunei as the four participants.

Thailand sees the 2026 King’s Cup as an opportunity to win a home‑soil trophy. The national team, known as the War Elephants, is under pressure after recent failures in the ASEAN Cup and SEA Games.