Thailand U23 coach cautious with Vietnam and Indonesia
Wang Thawatchai considers U23 Vietnam and U23 Indonesia as the biggest rivals of U23 Thailand at SEA Games 33, after the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 tournament with unsatisfactory results.
Head coach of U23 Thailand Wang Thawatchai identified U23 Vietnam and U23 Indonesia as the two biggest competitors for the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games (2025). The Thai coach emphasized that the whole team is training thoroughly and does not underestimate any opponent.
U23 Thailand points out two main opponents
Speaking about the gold medal race at the 33rd SEA Games, Mr. Wang said: "From the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship, we realized that Vietnam and Indonesia are the two biggest competitors. Like Malaysia, Thailand was also not satisfied with the results of the last tournament." He affirmed: "The whole team is working hard to practice and prepare carefully for the SEA Games and we will never underestimate any opponent."
Background from the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 tournament
The 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship in July has created important signs for the regional situation. Indonesia U23 reached the final but lost 0-1 to Vietnam U23 in Jakarta. Previously, Indonesia was the team that eliminated Thailand U23 in the semi-finals, emphasizing the level of direct competition between these three teams.
- U23 Indonesia eliminated U23 Thailand in the semi-finals of U23 Southeast Asia 2025.
- U23 Vietnam beat U23 Indonesia 1-0 in the final in Jakarta.
Memories of SEA Games 2023 and recovery momentum
The psychological foundation of U23 Thailand before SEA Games 33 was also shaped by the 2-5 defeat against U23 Indonesia in the final of SEA Games 2023 in Cambodia. That defeat is a deep pain, at the same time becoming the motivation for coach Wang Thawatchai and his team to aim for revenge and regain their position.
Home field and pressure of gold medal target
The 33rd SEA Games taking place at home is an important advantage for U23 Thailand. In the context that direct opponents U23 Vietnam and U23 Indonesia have both shown high competitive performance at the regional U23 level, Coach Wang's caution shows that the home team puts preparation first.
The consistent message from the U23 Thailand coaching staff is seriousness: not complacent, maximizing the training process and finding answers to the limitations revealed in the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 tournament. Mentioning Malaysia as a team that is also not satisfied with the results shows an overview of the competitive level, where every detail can determine the chance to reach the final.
Competitive landscape ahead of SEA Games 33
With recent results, the balance of candidates is tilting towards a three-way race between U23 Thailand, U23 Vietnam and U23 Indonesia. In fact: Indonesia eliminated Thailand in the semi-finals of the U23 Southeast Asia 2025; Vietnam beat Indonesia 1-0 in the final; while the memory of the 2023 SEA Games with a score of 2-5 still exists as a reminder of the severity of the big battles.
From those pieces, the priority of U23 Thailand is to consolidate stability and maintain focus during the preparation period. Coach Wang Thawatchai's cautious statement, along with the team's determination, reflects the only goal: to compete for the gold medal at home against two opponents considered the strongest at the moment.
