U22 Vietnam is not intimidated by U22 Malaysia at SEA Games 33.

22/10/2025 06:45:00 soccer

The draw for the men's football event at SEA Games 33 placed the U22 Vietnam team in an exciting Group B alongside U22 Malaysia and U22 Laos. Many believe U22 Malaysia is the main competitor for the top spot against coach Kim Sang Sik's team.

So, does U22 Vietnam need to worry about this long-time rival, especially following recent incidents between these two leading Southeast Asian football nations and the sanctions FIFA recently imposed on Malaysian football? The answer is no.

It’s fair to say that U22 Malaysia is currently just a name, particularly since their youth squad includes very few naturalized players and lacks truly outstanding talents. At the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship in Indonesia, U22 Malaysia was eliminated early during the group stage.

After the SEA Games 33 draw, U22 Malaysia’s head coach Nafuzi Zain remarked: "I’m not too worried about what people call 'trial and failure.' I still believe in this team." Coach Nafuzi Zain has every right to trust his players, but when compared to U22 Vietnam, U22 Malaysia clearly falls short.

U22 Vietnam has won the SEA Games twice (2019, 2021) and took bronze in 2023. In fact, coach Kim Sang Sik’s team will only face true challenges starting from the semifinals, aiming to return to the final after a two-year absence.

It can be said that U22 Vietnam will have a relatively easy time in the group stage, with the top spot almost guaranteed. However, the team will likely face the winner of Group A or C in the semifinals, meaning that match will be much more demanding and challenging.

U23 Malaysia (right) is not an opponent that U23 Vietnam should be overly concerned about at the upcoming SEA Games 33. Photo: Tuan Pham.

If U22 Vietnam defeats U22 Malaysia and overcomes U22 Laos to claim first place in Group B, the "best-case scenario" is meeting the runner-up of Group A or C in the semifinals. Nonetheless, if they face host U22 Thailand or defending champions U22 Indonesia, U22 Vietnam will surely face significant challenges.

Winning the gold medal in men’s football at SEA Games 33 remains U22 Vietnam’s ultimate goal. Earlier, the team successfully completed two major tasks in 2025: winning the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship and securing qualification for the 2026 AFC U23 Championship final after sweeping Group C qualifiers at home.

Recall that during their victorious campaign at the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship, U22 Vietnam comfortably beat Laos 3-0 in the group stage, while Malaysia was eliminated early. However, in that tournament, U22 Malaysia was poorly prepared, did not strengthen their squad, and relied solely on young players aiming to gain experience.

Based on recent performances, U22 Vietnam has demonstrated maturity, discipline, and strong mutual understanding after numerous official international tournaments and friendlies. Coach Kim Sang Sik has clearly communicated his tactical vision, and his players have fully absorbed his playing philosophy.

Given the current level of youth football in Southeast Asia, teams are no longer unfamiliar with each other’s quality, making major surprises or upsets unlikely. Fans can be confident in U22 Vietnam’s players’ abilities; the key is whether they can show their usual confidence regardless of the opponent.

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