Thailand wants to 'sweep away' football gold medals at SEA Games 33

Men's football used to be Thailand's pride at the SEA Games, with a record 16 gold medals. However, in the last three SEA Games, the gold medals went to Vietnam (2019, 2021) and Indonesia (2023). At the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, Thailand only won the silver medal after losing to Indonesia in the final.

Playing at home this time is a golden opportunity for them to restore their position as the number 1 team in the region. However, experts say Thailand will face fierce competition from Indonesia and Vietnam (who recently won the U23 Southeast Asian Championship).

Historically, the SEA Games women's football tournament has been held 13 times, with Vietnam winning 8 times and Thailand 5 times. The last time the Thai girls stepped onto the highest podium was at the 2013 SEA Games. Since then, they have continuously fallen to Vietnam in the finals, especially in 2019 and 2021.

At the 32nd SEA Games, Thailand also failed to reach the finals, only winning the bronze medal. Therefore, at the 2025 SEA Games, they are determined to overthrow the dominance of the Vietnamese women's team. However, it will not be easy for Thailand to achieve their goal when the Philippine women's team is too strong while Vietnam always plays very consistently.

Futsal was absent from the 32nd SEA Games. Therefore, when receiving the right to host the 33rd SEA Games, Thailand immediately put this sport back on the competition schedule. This is completely beneficial for them, especially in the men's event, when the Thai futsal team is considered the strongest in Asia.

In the women's tournament, the competition will be fiercer as Vietnam defeated Thailand 2-1 in the final of the 2024 Southeast Asian women's tournament. However, the Thai women's futsal team still showed their mettle when they won the 2025 Asian runner-up position and won a ticket to the World Cup.

Thailand's goal of "sweeping" all football gold medals is not only meaningful in terms of achievement but also a matter of honor. Football is always the sport that attracts the most attention from fans at the SEA Games.

If Thailand achieves this goal, they will make history right at home and affirm their position as the number one team in the region. In the past, Thailand created an unprecedented record at the 2013 SEA Games when they won all 4 gold medals in men's and women's football and men's and women's futsal. That makes Thailand confident in their goal at the 33rd SEA Games.

However, the road to Thailand's ambition of capturing gold medals in football will not be easy. The race for gold medals in football at the 33rd SEA Games promises to be the most attractive highlight of the tournament at the end of this year.