The Vietnam U22 team is staying in the same hotel as Thailand and Laos.
Coach Kim Sang Sik's 23-player squad arrived in Bangkok on the afternoon of December 1st, and will be based at The Quarter Ramkhamhaeng along with the U22 teams of Thailand and Laos; they will kick off Group B on December 3rd at Rajamangala Stadium.
The Vietnam U22 team arrived in Bangkok on the afternoon of December 1st, and are staying at The Quarter Ramkhamhaeng Hotel – the same accommodation as the Thailand U22 and Laos U22 teams. A major change occurred that same day: the Group B schedule was moved forward, with Coach Kim Sang Sik's team opening their campaign against Laos U22 on December 3rd at the Rajamangala Stadium.
Main highlights
- Composition: 23 selected players.
- Itinerary: Departing Ho Chi Minh City on the morning of December 1st, the flight takes approximately one hour; arriving at Suvarnabhumi at 2 PM.
- Training camp location: The Quarter Ramkhamhaeng (Bangkok), along with the U22 Thailand and U22 Laos teams.
- Training: The first session will be on the afternoon of December 1st at the RBAC University stadium; there will be two official training sessions before the match against Laos.
- Revised schedule: opening match on December 3rd, second round on December 11th; semi-finals on December 15th, final on December 18th. All matches will be played at Rajamangala Stadium.
Events and schedule for December 1st
Immediately after landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 2 PM, the Vietnam U22 team completed immigration procedures, unloaded their luggage, and went to the hotel. The team held their first training session that afternoon at RBAC University, before having two more official training sessions to acclimatize to the competition conditions.
Unpredictable weather conditions in Songkhla (heavy and prolonged rain) forced the men's football tournament in Group B to be moved to Bangkok. Therefore, the schedule was adjusted: the opening match was played one day earlier, while the second round of matches remained unchanged.
| Day | Match | Yard |
|---|---|---|
| 03/12 | Vietnam U22 vs Laos U22 | Rajamangala (Bangkok) |
| 11/12 | Vietnam U22 vs Malaysia U22 | Rajamangala (Bangkok) |
| 15/12 | Semifinal | Rajamangala (Bangkok) |
| 18/12 | Final | Rajamangala (Bangkok) |
Tournament bracket and grouping context
Following Cambodia's withdrawal, the Organizing Committee plans to make adjustments: moving the Singapore U22 team from Group C to Group A. The men's football tournament at the 33rd SEA Games will then feature 9 teams, divided into 3 groups, with 3 teams in each group.
| Board | Team |
|---|---|
| A | Thailand, Timor-Leste, Singapore |
| B | Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos |
| C | Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines |
Tactical and physical aspects: new pace, new demands.
The opening date was moved up by one day, meaning the preparation time in Bangkok was reduced to just two official training sessions. In return, the eight-day break between the two group stage matches (December 3rd to December 11th) allowed coach Kim Sang Sik's coaching staff to plan a balanced training load, maintain rhythm, and facilitate recovery.
Concentrating all matches in Group B at Rajamangala Stadium allows teams to quickly familiarize themselves with the single playing surface throughout the group stage, thereby establishing stable playing principles. With the clear objective of competing for the Gold Medal, the continuity of the venue is crucial for maintaining match rhythm and organizational routines.
Key milestones to note
- 1/12: Vietnam U22 team arrives in Bangkok at 2 PM; first training session at RBAC University.
- December 3rd: Opening match against U22 Laos (adjusted one day earlier than originally planned).
- 11/12: Second match against U22 Malaysia.
- December 15th and 18th: Semifinals and finals, both at Rajamangala.
From The Quarter Ramkhamhaeng hotel to the Rajamangala Stadium pitch, all preparations for the Vietnam U22 team are focused on the December 3rd milestone. SEA Games 33 kicks off with a new schedule, but the goal remains unchanged: aiming for the final match on December 18th.
