Thailand U23 coach is cautious about Vietnam and Indonesia.
Wang Thawatchai considers the Vietnam U23 and Indonesia U23 teams as Thailand U23's biggest rivals at the SEA Games 33, following their disappointing results at the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship.
Thailand U23 head coach Wang Thawatchai identified Vietnam U23 and Indonesia U23 as the two biggest competitors for the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games (2025). The Thai coach emphasized that the entire team is training thoroughly and does not underestimate any opponent.
Thailand U23 identifies two main rivals.
Speaking about the race for the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games, Mr. Wang said: "From the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship, we realized that Vietnam and Indonesia are our two biggest competitors. Like Malaysia, Thailand is also not satisfied with the results of the recent tournament." He affirmed: "The whole team is working hard in training, preparing thoroughly for the SEA Games, and we will never underestimate any opponent."
The context is from the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship.
The 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship, held in July, provided important clues to the regional landscape. Indonesia's U23 team reached the final but lost 0-1 to Vietnam's U23 team in Jakarta. Prior to that, Indonesia had eliminated Thailand's U23 team in the semi-finals, highlighting the direct competition between these three teams.
- Indonesia U23 eliminated Thailand U23 in the semi-finals of the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship.
- Vietnam U23 defeated Indonesia U23 1-0 in the final match in Jakarta.
Memories of the 2023 SEA Games and the motivation for recovery.
The psychological foundation of the Thai U23 team ahead of the 33rd SEA Games was further shaped by their 2-5 defeat against Indonesia U23 in the 2023 SEA Games final in Cambodia. That loss remains a deep-seated pain, but it also serves as motivation for coach Wang Thawatchai and his team to pursue revenge and regain their former glory.
Home advantage and the pressure of aiming for a gold medal.
The fact that the 33rd SEA Games are being held on home soil is a significant advantage for the Thai U23 team. Given that their direct rivals, the Vietnamese U23 and Indonesian U23 teams, have both recently shown strong performance at the regional U23 level, Coach Wang's cautious approach shows that the home team prioritizes preparation.
The overarching message from the U23 Thailand coaching staff is one of seriousness: avoiding complacency, maximizing training, and seeking answers to the shortcomings revealed at the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship. Mentioning Malaysia as a team also dissatisfied with their performance shows a broader perspective on the competitive landscape, where every detail can determine the chances of reaching the final.
The competitive landscape ahead of the 33rd SEA Games.
With recent results, the balance of power is tipping toward a three-way race between U23 Thailand, U23 Vietnam, and U23 Indonesia. The reality is: Indonesia eliminated Thailand in the semi-finals of the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship; Vietnam beat Indonesia 1-0 in the final; while the memory of the 2023 SEA Games 2-5 defeat remains a reminder of the harsh realities of major competitions.
From those pieces, the priority for the U23 Thailand team is to consolidate stability and maintain focus during the preparation phase. Coach Wang Thawatchai's cautious statement, along with the team's determination, reflects a single goal: to compete for the gold medal on home soil against two of the biggest rivals at this time.
