The Thailand Volleyball Federation (TVA) has expressed regret over inappropriate remarks made by their team during the first leg of the Southeast Asian Women’s Volleyball Cup (SEA V-Cup) 2026, which is being held in Vietnam. The event took place at the Đông Anh Sports Hall in Hanoi from July 31 to August 2, featuring teams from Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines competing in a round-robin format.

Prior to the tournament, certain images and comments from Thailand regarding the organization of the event led to disputes. A notable incident involved a photo of a Thai player holding a dirty and old volleyball, which was shared on the TVA's social media page. Additionally, coach Kiattipong Radchatagriengkai criticized the organizing committee for placing their hotel too far from the competition venue, resulting in nearly 90 minutes of travel time during their first practice, exceeding the 60-minute limit set by the tournament regulations.

These comments prompted Thai fans to accuse the Vietnamese hosts of poor preparation and discrimination, escalating tensions between supporters of both countries. In response, the Vietnam Volleyball Federation (VFV) clarified that the complaints from Thailand were inaccurate. They stated that new volleyballs were provided to all teams and that the old ball seen in the photo belonged to a youth team and was not intended for use in the tournament. Furthermore, the regulations stipulated that the accommodation must meet a five-star standard.

In previous tournaments held in Vietnam, teams were accommodated at the La Thanh Hotel in Hanoi. However, due to ongoing road construction near that area, the organizers opted for the Mường Thanh Bắc Ninh Hotel, located 30 kilometers from the venue, for three visiting teams. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese team stayed at a closer hotel that did not meet the five-star requirement.

The VFV explained that the long travel time for the Thai team during their first practice on July 29 was also due to the time taken from Nội Bài Airport. After the VFV addressed the situation, the Thai Federation acknowledged the facts. TVA president Somporn Chaibangyang, who also serves as the president of the Southeast Asian Volleyball Federation (SAVA), expressed regret over the misunderstandings and emphasized the importance of fostering friendship, cooperation, and the development of volleyball in the region rather than focusing solely on competitive success.

TVA urged visiting teams to recognize and respect the efforts of the host country and to follow proper procedures for addressing any issues, rather than hastily sharing information with the media. The federation also affirmed that the VFV is not obligated to meet all the demands of the Thai women's volleyball team and indicated that they would remind their team about their recent statements and actions, which have significantly affected the image of Southeast Asian volleyball.

The SEA V-Cup, which originated from the ASEAN Grand Prix and SEA V-League, has been held since 2019, with two legs typically organized each year, primarily in Vietnam and Thailand. Thailand has historically dominated the women's category, winning the championship eight times in a row before Vietnam broke the streak in the second leg of 2025, held in Ninh Bình. This year, Thailand remains a strong contender for the title, despite missing some key players, as they recently performed well in the FIVB Nations League 2026.