Worawi Makudi, a FIFA executive committee member, said soccer-mad Thailand was being held back by poverty and that children in rural areas had little or no chance to play the game properly due to a lack of equipment.

He plans to give a free soccer ball to any child who wants one, which he hopes will create a generation of players that can lead Thailand to its first World Cup finals.

Indeed! Now if only they had the same vision for learning and education as they did for football. (Thanks, Bill!)