Vietnam U22 national team return home, bringing an end to a glorious journey at the 33rd SEA Games
On the afternoon of December 19, the Vietnam U22 national team returned to Hanoi, officially bringing to a close an emotional and glorious campaign at the 33rd SEA Games, highlighted by the gold medal in men’s football following an impressive comeback victory over hosts Thailand in the final.
22/12/2025 10:26:13
Welcoming the team at the airport were Ms. Le Thi Hoang Yen – Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Sports Administration; Mr. Nguyen Van Phu – General Secretary of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF); Ms. Dinh Thi Thu Trang – Deputy General Secretary of the VFF; along with a large number of fans who came to congratulate the players and coaching staff and share in the joy of victory.
At the 33rd SEA Games, Vietnam U22 demonstrated consistent form and strong competitive character. In the group stage, the team won both matches, defeating U22 Laos and U22 Malaysia to finish top of Group B. Advancing to the semi-finals, Vietnam U22 continued to assert their strength with a 2–0 victory over U22 Philippines, securing a place in the final.
In the final held at Rajamangala Stadium, Vietnam U22 produced an emotional comeback. Despite trailing 0–2 in the first half, the Vietnamese players showed great resilience, scoring three consecutive goals in the second half to secure a dramatic 3–2 victory. The result brought home the prestigious gold medal in men’s football for Vietnam and contributed significantly to the overall achievements of the Vietnam Sports Delegation at the Games.
Sharing his thoughts after the tournament, head coach Kim Sang Sik expressed his pride in his players’ fighting spirit and never-give-up attitude. He affirmed that the SEA Games 33 title was the outcome of thorough preparation, strong team unity, and especially the tremendous support from Vietnamese fans nationwide.
According to the plan, on December 23, the Vietnam U22 national team will regroup in Hanoi to prepare for the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 finals, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia from January 7 to January 25, 2026. On December 26, the team will depart for a training camp in Qatar and is expected to play a friendly match against U23 Syria, before travelling to Saudi Arabia on January 1, 2026.
At the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 finals, head coach Kim Sang Sik’s side will open their campaign against U23 Jordan on January 6, followed by matches against U23 Kyrgyzstan on January 9 and U23 Saudi Arabia on January 12.
