Thai fans collectively reacted when they did not face Vietnam in the AFF final

Vietnam’s elimination just before the U19 Southeast Asian futsal final left red-shirt fans regretful and caused a strong response from Thai supporters because the usual storyline did not unfold.

The 3-7 defeat of Vietnam’s U19 futsal team against Indonesia’s U19 futsal squad in the semifinals of the U19 Southeast Asian futsal tournament held on the afternoon of December 27 at Nonthaburi Gymnasium officially ended the red team’s hopes of reaching the final. Vietnam started the match with determination but was quickly overwhelmed by Indonesia’s fast-paced game and failed to recover from consecutive moments of lost focus.

Vietnam managed to narrow the gap at times and played a determined power play in the second half, but the difference in chance conversion made their efforts too late. When the final whistle blew, not only Vietnamese fans felt regretful, but a wave of discussion also erupted immediately on regional futsal forums, especially in Thailand.

Many Thai fans admitted they had been expecting a final against Vietnam, the familiar scenario in Southeast Asian futsal over many years. One user commented: “It’s a pity, I was waiting for Vietnam to reach the final to watch a truly intense match”. Another expressed disappointment: “Without Vietnam, the final loses some of its excitement because they are always the team that applies great pressure”.

Besides the regret, many Thai fans also praised Indonesia, a team showing clear progress in youth futsal. “Indonesia played very disciplined and sharp; they deserve to be in this year’s final”, a comment that received wide agreement.

However, some opinions suggested that Vietnam’s early elimination made the tournament somewhat less balanced: “Vietnam is always a strong rival for Thailand; without them, the final becomes more predictable”.

On the other hand, some Thai supporters viewed Vietnam’s defeat as a warning for the whole region. “Southeast Asian futsal is changing; no team can be sure of a spot in the final anymore”, one opinion stated. This reflects the reality that youth teams in the region, especially Indonesia, are closing the gap and ready to break the familiar order.

The absence of both Vietnam’s U19 and U16 futsal teams in this year’s Southeast Asian finals also surprised Thai fans. Many believe that Vietnam’s absence and the likely final between Thailand and Indonesia indicate a new competitive cycle is emerging.

Although the results were not as expected, the reactions from Thai fans partly show that Vietnam’s youth futsal status is still respected regionally. Being anticipated and missed in the final is proof that Vietnam remains an important part of the Southeast Asian futsal scene, even on less successful days.