Vietnam Futsal and the Mixed Emotions at SEA Games 33

22/12/2025 06:55:00 ScoreStream

SEA Games 33 ended with opposing emotions for Vietnam futsal. One side celebrated the historic triumph of the women’s futsal team winning their first gold medal after many years, breaking Thailand’s long-held supremacy. The other side experienced disappointment and regret from the men’s futsal team.

For the women’s futsal team, SEA Games 33 was truly a landmark event. Coach Nguyen Dinh Hoang’s squad surpassed many boundaries to make history. Despite the 2025 National League featuring only four clubs and limited competitive opportunities, the female players showed admirable courage, spirit, and teamwork.

The 5-0 win against Indonesia in the final not only secured a historic gold medal but also proved that Vietnam’s women’s futsal has advanced to a higher tier in the region. Players such as Thuy Trang, K'Thua, Thu Xuan, and Bien Thi Hang highlighted that combining 11-a-side footballers with futsal talent is the right path, showcasing the coaching staff’s ability to identify talent and adapt tactics effectively.

The men’s futsal team (in red) failing to win a medal at SEA Games 33 was a surprising result. Photo: FAT

The journey to the women’s futsal championship was far from easy. The Philippines posed significant challenges in the semifinals, and Myanmar showed strong resilience in the group stage. Notably, Indonesia’s rapid improvement, having eliminated host Thailand in the semifinals, indicated the regional gap is closing fast. This made the gold medal even more precious but also served as a reminder that Vietnam’s women’s futsal must not rest on its laurels.

In stark contrast, the Vietnam men’s futsal team endured a forgettable SEA Games. Coach Diego Raul’s squad carried high expectations, especially as Thailand showed signs of decline, and although Indonesia was strong, they were not unbeatable.

Vietnam entered SEA Games 33 as Southeast Asia’s runner-up, bringing confidence and thorough preparation. However, everything began to unravel with a 2-4 opening loss to Malaysia, a pivotal defeat. The unexpected 1-0 win over Indonesia in the second match was insufficient to mask deeper issues.

The subsequent 1-2 loss to Thailand revealed the team’s lack of stability and required mental toughness. A 4-2 win over Myanmar only secured fourth place out of five teams, tied on six points with Malaysia but losing on head-to-head criteria. This was clearly an unacceptable outcome for a team expected to contend for gold but failing even to earn bronze.

SEA Games 33 exposed numerous problems: uneven squad quality, inconsistent performance, and major questions during the generational transition.

On a positive note, young players like Da Hai and Ngoc Anh showed promising signs, while some veterans fell short of expectations. The performance gap between players from Thai Son Bac and Thai Son Nam Ho Chi Minh City also raised concerns about team structure.

Statistics reveal that 7 out of 8 goals scored by the Vietnam men’s futsal team at SEA Games 33 came from Thai Son Bac players, currently considered the strongest futsal club in Vietnam. Among them, 20-year-old pivot Da Hai stood out with 4 goals, and the remaining goal was scored by Nguyen Manh Dung.

The question arises: does Vietnam futsal dare to aggressively rejuvenate the team? Does Coach Diego Raul have enough authority and trust to renew the squad with a long-term vision? These are unavoidable issues.

If talents like Da Hai are given opportunities to compete at higher levels, Vietnam futsal can have high hopes for the future. With strong regional investment, FIFA’s official rankings, and the growing importance of the Futsal World Cup, falling behind will come at a cost.

To maintain its top position in Southeast Asia, Vietnam futsal cannot be complacent with the present, or else future SEA Games and upcoming Southeast Asian and Asian championships will continue to be stories of regret.

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