The 2012 Thai Premier League season will kick off on March 17 with new rules, the league said yesterday.
Each TPL side will be allowed to have up to five foreign players on their books with a maximum three non-Asian players and one Asian on the pitch at the same time, TPL chairman Vichit Yamboonruang said.
The new regulation is to be in line with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) rules, he said.
At the moment, each TPL side are allowed to have up to seven foreign players with up to five on the pitch at the same time.
TPL champions Buriram PEA will meet league runners-up Chonburi FC in the King's Trophy match on March 11.
The traditional curtain-raising match is normally between the league winners and FA Cup champions. However, Buriram PEA won both titles this season.
Buriram PEA will merge with their sister club Buriram FC, the First Division champions, and become Buriram United.
As for the national side, they will play a friendly with Myanmar in Nay Pyi Taw on Feb 11 or 12 and with Uzbekistan in Bangkok on Feb 24 before meeting Oman in a World Cup qualifier on Feb 29.
Thailand must win at Oman to stand any chance of progressing to the next qualifying round for the 2014 World Cup.
Meanwhile, English Premier League side Sunderland will play a friendly with a TPL All-Star side in Bangkok on July 24.