Vietnamese youth futsal team loses its standing in Southeast Asia.
The consecutive defeats of the Vietnamese U16 and U19 futsal teams against Thailand and Indonesia have raised concerns about the decline of youth football in the country.
Vietnamese youth futsal has just gone through a difficult period, with both the U16 and U19 teams failing to reach the finals of the 2025 Southeast Asian Futsal Championships. This is the first time in many years that the position of Vietnamese indoor football in the region has been shaken by the strong rise of Thailand and especially Indonesia.
Complete failure at the youth levels.
At the 2025 Southeast Asian U16 Futsal Championship, a turning point occurred when the Vietnam U16 team suffered a heavy 1-5 defeat against their arch-rivals Thailand U16 in a crucial match. Despite their efforts to win against Brunei in the final match, the Vietnamese team still finished third overall, watching Indonesia and Thailand advance to the final.
A similar scenario unfolded with the U19 team. In a dramatic semi-final against Indonesia's U19 team, the young Vietnamese players were unable to withstand their opponents' fast-paced style of play and sharp finishing ability. The 3-7 defeat clearly reflected the disparity in finishing efficiency, officially ending Vietnam's hopes of winning the championship.
Southeast Asian public opinion: Indonesia is taking the lead.
Witnessing the poor run of results for Vietnam's youth futsal teams, heated debates have erupted among fans in the region. Indonesian fan Al Kabir Kabir confidently declared that his country is becoming the "new king" of futsal, surpassing the fierce competition from Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Thai futsal fans continue to assert their top-tier status. Supporter Beebe Varaporn Talubnak expressed sympathy but emphasized the fact that Thai futsal still maintains a certain distance from the rest. Some other opinions from Malaysia suggest that although Vietnam has a good foundation in 11-a-side football, the situation is completely different in futsal.
Lessons for the journey ahead.
The failures in two consecutive tournaments serve as a necessary wake-up call for the training and development of young futsal players in Vietnam. Weaknesses in defense and mental fortitude at crucial moments need to be addressed quickly. However, experts see these as valuable experiences for the players to gain international experience.
The fighting spirit and determination until the very last minute is a bright spot for Vietnamese futsal as it aims for a stronger comeback. Proper investment and a shift in tactical thinking will be key factors in reclaiming its former position in the regional arena in the near future.
