SEA Games 33 reduces the number of football matches

Vietnam women's football team at SEA Games 32 (Cambodia 2023) - Photo: NAM TRAN

The 33rd SEA Games will take place from December 9 to 20, 2025 in the cities of Bangkok, Chonburi and Songkhla, Thailand.

According to the latest proposal from the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) technical committee, men's and women's football are expected to reduce the number of matches with a new group format.

Specifically, the teams are divided into 3 groups instead of 2 groups like in previous tournaments. After the group stage matches, the 3 teams that win the group and the second team with the best results will enter the semi-finals.

The proposal is based on the competition format of Southeast Asian youth football tournaments and is awaiting approval from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

FAT explained that the new grouping format will reduce the number of matches from about 6-7 matches in 10 days to only about 4-5 matches. This is to ensure the best physical condition and prevent injuries for the players.

Currently, there are 11 men's teams and 9 women's teams registered to compete in football at the 33rd SEA Games.

In case the "book is closed" with the number of teams not qualified to divide into 3 groups, the division into 2 groups will return. Thai media commented that this proposal of FAT is likely to be approved by AFC. And this could become a historic change for football at the Southeast Asian Games .

Since football appeared at a SEA Games - in 1959 (men's football) and 1985 (women's football), the competition format has always been 1-2 groups in the group stage.

U23 Indonesia is the team that won the most recent gold medal in SEA Games football - Photo: TTO

Before the proposal to reduce the number of matches, FAT also passed a regulation that men's football teams only use U22 players (born from January 1, 2003 onwards) to suit the teams preparing for the U23 Asian final round, which takes place periodically in even years.

In the history of the SEA Games, in men's football from 2001 when the age limit was U23 until now, the Thai team has won the most gold medals: 7 times, followed by Vietnam, Malaysia with 2 times, and Indonesia with 1 time.

In the women's category, since it was introduced into the competition program in 1985, the Vietnamese women's team has won the most gold medals with 8 times, followed by the Thai team with 5 times.

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HOANG TUNG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/sea-games-33-giam-so-luong-tran-dau-mon-bong-da-20250423152545504.htm