Thai media reacts to facing Cambodia in the semifinals instead of Vietnam.

Thai media expresses astonishment at U19 Cambodia's display, cautioning that U19 Thailand will encounter a difficult test in the semifinals.

Thai media is giving special attention to U19 Cambodia after the team created a major upset at the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship to earn a semifinal berth.

The website Mr.Football AEC describes the upcoming match between U19 Thailand and U19 Cambodia as an "exciting battle on the field". According to the site, Cambodia's draw with U19 Australia allowed them to finish the group stage as the best runner-up, surpassing Vietnam, thus securing a knockout spot and becoming Thailand's semifinal opponent.

Meanwhile, the site Krian Buriram V2 is especially impressed by U19 Cambodia's performance. The site claims Cambodia created a "Southeast Asian football earthquake" by obtaining a positive result against Australia, one of Asia's strongest football nations.

Thai media also observes that Cambodian youth football has made notable progress in recent years. The team's competitive showing against Australia is regarded as proof of the rapid development of football in the neighboring country.

Even though U19 Thailand is still favored due to its squad and experience, many voices in Thai media believe the "Young War Elephants" must not be overconfident. Cambodia is brimming with confidence after the group stage and can pose difficulties for any opponent.

Per the schedule, the semifinal between U19 Thailand and U19 Cambodia will be held in the coming days. This is expected to be a highly anticipated clash, with one side a top championship contender and the other the biggest surprise of this year's tournament.