Indonesian newspaper reports: Vietnam dethrones Thailand to dominate Southeast Asia.
With a historic treble in 2025, Indonesian media acknowledge that Vietnamese football has officially surpassed Thailand to establish its dominant position in the region.
Southeast Asian football is witnessing a historic transfer of power.SuperballIndonesian officials recently confirmed that the Vietnamese national team has officially dethroned Thailand to become the new "king" of the region after a hugely successful 2025 with three consecutive championships.
The absolute dominance of the Golden Star Warriors
2025 marks a glorious milestone as Vietnamese football sweeps all the most important titles. This historic treble includes: the AFF Cup, the Southeast Asian U23 Championship, and the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games. These achievements are not just dry statistics, but also a testament to Vietnam's superior strength and ability against its direct rivals in the region.
The decline of Thai football
In contrast to Vietnam's rising popularity, Thai football is experiencing a prolonged title crisis. According to analysis from...Superball"The War Elephants" have gone trophyless at every level, from U16 to the national team, since 2022. An Indonesian newspaper points out that instability on the coaching bench and limitations in youth development are the core reasons why Thailand has lost its former leading position.
Asserting their position in crucial matches.
The most notable highlight in Vietnam's football dominance has been how the team overcame Thailand at crucial moments. At the AFF Cup earlier this year, Vietnam secured convincing victories in both legs of the final. Then, at the SEA Games 33, their dramatic 3-2 comeback win against their rivals once again demonstrated their superiority in both psychology and tactics.
While Vietnam and Indonesia are making significant strides thanks to well-structured development strategies, Thailand is still struggling to regain its former glory. The strong rise of competitors poses a huge challenge to Thailand's football revival ambitions in 2026, starting with the upcoming U23 Asian Championship finals.
