Would this be beneficial for Vietnam?

The age limit for participation in men's football has not yet been agreed upon.

According to Thai media reports, the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) has proposed to the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) that the host nation of the 33rd SEA Games will reserve the men's football event for players under 22 years old. Furthermore, the proposal suggests that players over 22 years old will not be allowed to join the men's football teams participating in the Southeast Asian Games . Thailand's desire for the U22 age group for the 33rd SEA Games aims to prepare for the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.

Vi Hao (right), 22 years old this year, is eligible to participate in the 33rd SEA Games in 2025 and the U.23 Asian Championship in 2026.

It's important to note that the age limit for men's football at the SEA Games varies. For example, at the 30th SEA Games in 2019 (held in the Philippines) and the 31st SEA Games in 2022 (held in Vietnam), the age limit was U23, with each team allowed to add three players over 23 years old. However, at the 32nd SEA Games in 2023, held in Cambodia, teams were not allowed to add players over 23.

Typically, the Southeast Asian Games Council approves the regulations for the sports and events at the SEA Games after consulting with the Olympic Committees of the member countries. However, according to custom, the voice of the host countries of each Games is very important in regional sports council meetings. Therefore, once the host country Thailand proposed using U22 teams to compete at the 33rd SEA Games, Southeast Asian teams could begin planning their squads according to that age group.

Vietnam and Indonesia have suitable forces available.

Indonesia would benefit from the proposal by FAT and SAT, as Indonesia will almost certainly field its U22 team in the 2024 AFF Cup. 22 out of 24 Indonesian players participating in the Southeast Asian Football Championship are within that age range. This can be considered an important "test run" for the young players from the archipelago before the 33rd SEA Games.

Vietnamese youth football aims to win the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games.

What is the personnel like for the Vietnamese team?

Regarding Vietnamese football, regardless of whether the U.22 or U.23 teams qualify for the upcoming SEA Games, our strength will remain largely unchanged.

Most of Vietnam's best young football players are 22 years old, such as goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien, Doan Huy Hoang (both 22 years old), Cao Van Binh (21 years old), defenders Le Nguyen Hoang, Nguyen Manh Hung, Nguyen Bao Long (20 years old), Nguyen Hong Phuc, Ho Van Cuong (22 years old), midfielders Khuat Van Khang, Nguyen Van Truong, Nguyen Thai Son, Nguyen Duc Viet, Nguyen Phi Hoang (all 22 years old), forwards Bui Vi Hao, Nguyen Quoc Viet, Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Tran Ngoc Son (all 22 years old), Nguyen Dinh Bac (21 years old)...

Only a few players were unfortunately eliminated, especially if the age limit for the SEA Games 33 had been U.22 instead of U.23. The most notable among them is goalkeeper Nguyen Van Viet (23 years old, currently playing for SLNA Club).

With the aforementioned squad, the Vietnam U22 team is strong enough to compete for the gold medal in men's football at this year's Southeast Asian Games. It's noteworthy that the Vietnam U22 team has considerable international experience. Players like Trung Kien, Vi Hao, Khuat Van Khang, Thai Son, Van Truong, Dinh Bac, and Quoc Viet have represented the Vietnamese national team at various stages. Meanwhile, Duc Viet, Thanh Nhan, Van Binh, Nguyen Hoang, and Manh Hung previously participated in the 2023 AFC U-20 Championship or the 2024 AFC U-23 Championship.

In terms of professional quality and international competition experience, young Vietnamese football players today are in no way inferior to their peers in the region.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tranh-cai-do-tuoi-bong-da-nam-du-sea-games-33-lieu-co-loi-cho-viet-nam-185250124120147467.htm