SEA Games 33: Vietnamese Football on the Brink of Glory

The U22 Vietnam team won 2-0 over U22 Philippines in the men's football semifinals at SEA Games 33. In the other semifinal, the host team U22 Thailand defeated U22 Malaysia 1-0.

The SEA Games 33 men's football final between U22 Vietnam and U22 Thailand will take place at 7:30 PM on December 18 at Rajamangala Stadium (Bangkok).

Right after the semifinal, Vice President of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and head of the U22 Vietnam delegation at SEA Games 33, Trần Anh Tú, came onto the field to congratulate and commend the team’s achievement in reaching the men's football final under Coach Kim Sang Sik. He also announced that the VFF Executive Committee has rewarded the team with 500 million VND. Previously, the VFF had given a “hot” reward of 600 million VND for advancing to the semifinals.

After winning gold medals twice at SEA Games 30 and 31, U22 Vietnam lost 2-3 to U22 Indonesia in the semifinals of SEA Games 32, later earning the bronze medal. Meanwhile, U22 Thailand reached the finals in the last two SEA Games but settled for silver medals both times.

Alongside the men's team, the Vietnam women's football team also secured a decisive 5-0 win over Indonesia in the semifinal, booking their place in the final. The impressive performance of the “Golden Girls” of Vietnamese football was rewarded with a “hot” bonus of 700 million VND by the Vietnam Football Federation.

Not Thailand or Myanmar, but the Philippines women's team is considered the strongest opponent by the Vietnam women's team at SEA Games 33. In fact, in their last three encounters, Vietnam's women's football team has lost to the Philippines each time.

Coach Mai Đức Chung has often mentioned that the biggest disadvantage for the Vietnamese female players is their smaller stature and limited stamina, whereas the Philippines, with their naturalization policy, have built a physically stronger women's team.

The SEA Games 33 women's football final between Vietnam and the Philippines will be held at 7:30 PM on December 17 at Chonburi Stadium. The Vietnam women's team is aiming for a historic fifth consecutive SEA Games gold medal.

Before the men's football semifinal at SEA Games 33, Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Thị Thanh Trà signed Decision No. 2658/QĐ-TTg awarding Certificates of Merit from the Prime Minister to five individuals for their outstanding coaching and leadership that led athletes to win the gold medal at the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Football Championship in Indonesia.

The list of five individuals awarded includes: Mr. Kim Sang Sik (South Korean nationality), Head Coach of the national U23 men's football team; Mr. Yoon Dong Hun (South Korean), Assistant Coach of the national U23 men's football team; Mr. Lee Jung Soo (South Korean), Assistant Coach of the national U23 men's football team; Mr. Lee Woon Jae (South Korean), Assistant Coach of the national U23 men's football team; and Mr. Cedric Serge Christian Roger (French), Assistant Coach of the national U23 men's football team.

The Prime Minister’s Certificate of Merit is a timely and well-deserved recognition of the coaching staff’s contributions, which have helped create brilliant achievements for Vietnamese football. This is also a great joy for Coach Kim Sang Sik and his colleagues as they lead the U22 Vietnam team competing at SEA Games 33.