Southeast Asian Games

Discover the football of the Southeast Asian Games

Football is one of the most popular and watched sports at the Southeast Asian Games, a multi-sport competition that brings together the countries of Southeast Asia every two years. Discover the history, the prize list and the challenges of this discipline that fascinates the crowds.

What is the Southeast Asian Games?

The Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) is a sporting event that has been held every two years since 1959, with some interruptions due to political conflicts or natural disasters . They bring together the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), namely: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor and Vietnam. The Games aim to promote cooperation, solidarity and friendship between the peoples of the region, as well as to develop the sporting potential of the athletes.

The Games include a wide range of disciplines, ranging from Olympic sports such as athletics, swimming or badminton, to traditional sports such as sepak takraw, pencak silat or wushu. The number and type of sports varies between editions and host countries. In 2019, in the Philippines, there were 56 sports on the program, including some new ones such as skateboarding, surfing or kurash.

What is the history of football at the Southeast Asian Games?

Football has been part of the Southeast Asian Games since the first edition in 1959 (then called the Peninsular Southeast Asian Games). The women's football competition was first held in 1985 in Thailand. Between 2001 and 2015, the age limit for men's teams was under 23 with the possibility of selecting up to three older players for each team. Since the 2017 Southeast Asian Games, the age limit for men's teams is under 22. At the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, two older players were allowed for each team.

Football at the Southeast Asian Games has seen several format changes over the years. It was contested as a points championship until 1991, then as a knockout tournament until 2003. Since 2005, it has been played as a group stage followed by a final knockout stage.

What is the record of football at the Southeast Asian Games?

Thailand and Vietnam are the only two nations to have won at least five gold medals in the men's and women's tournaments. Thailand largely dominates the men's list with 16 titles over 30 editions, including five consecutive ones between 1993 and 2007. Vietnam has won five men's titles, the last of which was in 2019 in the Philippines. Burma and Malaysia each have four men's titles, while Indonesia have three.

The women’s list is more balanced, with six different nations having won gold. Vietnam holds the record with six women's titles out of 11

Which country is hosting the 2023 Southeast Asian Games?

The 32nd edition of the Southeast Asian Games takes place in the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, from April 29, 2023 to May 17, 2023.

Venues for the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia

Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, hosts the majority of Southeast Asian Games events, with some events scheduled in other cities such as Siem Reap. The two main sports venues for the games are Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium and Phnom Penh Morodok Techo National Stadium. The Olympic Stadium has a capacity of 50,000, while the National Morodok Techo Stadium has a capacity of 60,000.

The football tournament of the 2023 Games

The matches of the 2023 Southeast Asian Games football tournament will start on April 29, 2023 with the very first match of the group stages and will end on the day of the small final and the final, May 16 2023. 24 matches will be played in Phnom Penh during the competition, including the 20 matches of Group A and Group B, the semi-finals, the small-final to determine the national champion team. Cambodia U22 national team will try to fill happiness his many fans, to force the feat at home.

1xbet Live Streaming free Asian football

The 3 quick steps to register on 1Xbet Asia and watch football matches without having to pay

1. How to register and watch free sports on 1xbet Cambodia without needing a TV subscription? Nothing could be simpler via this direct link to register quickly on 1XBet + 100% bonus
2. Click on the live button between the betting sports and promo button on the top menu
3. Next, choose between sports and matches with the small TV icon. There you go, you watch the sport live from your home or on your smartphone

What are the stakes for football at the 2021 Southeast Asian Games?

The 2021 Southeast Asian Games took place from May 6 to 22, 2021 in Vietnam, host country for the third time after 2003 and 2017. Football was one of the flagship sports of this event, with 10 men's teams and 8 women's teams vying for the title. Matches will be played in 10 stadiums across six cities: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Phú Thọ.

Football at the 2021 Southeast Asian Games was an opportunity for young talent in the region to get noticed and prepare for upcoming international events, such as qualifying for the 2026 World Cup or the 2024 Olympic Games. The participating teams were keen to shine in front of their home crowd and challenge historic favorites Thailand and Vietnam.

The men's tournament saw Vietnam, defending champion and host country, Laos, Cambodia, East Timor and Brunei, qualified after eliminating East Timor in the play-offs, face off in Group A. In Group B, we found Thailand, record holder of titles with 16 crowns, Indonesia, finalist in 2019, Malaysia, champion in 2011 and 2017, Singapore, quadruple winner between 1998 and 2012, and the Philippines, who hoped to create surprise.

The women's tournament pitted Vietnam, defending champion and host country, Thailand, six times crowned between 1985 and 2013, Myanmar, bronze medalists in 2019, and East Timor in Group A. In Group B, we found the Philippines, finalists in 2019 and host country of the last edition, Indonesia, silver medalist in 2017, Singapore and Cambodia.

The top two from each group qualified for the crossover semi-finals. The winners of the semi-finals competed for the gold medal while the losers consoled themselves with the bronze medal.

Conclusion

Football at the Southeast Asian Games is an exciting competition that showcases the talents and progress of nations in the region. It is also an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the peoples of Southeast Asia, who share a common culture and history. The 2023 Southeast Asian Games will undoubtedly be a great sporting spectacle and a moment of pride for Cambodia, which is hosting the event for the first time. Who will succeed Thailand and Vietnam on the podium? See you in May 2023 to find out!

FAQs

Which country is hosting the Southeast Asian Games?

The Philippines in 2019, Vietnam in 2021, Cambodia in 2023 and Thailand in 2025.

What is the purpose of the Southeast Asian Games?

The very first objective was to establish better relations between ASEAN countries. The second is to prepare young athletes for the biggest Asian and world competitions, in order to improve their performance in the Olympic Games and Asian Games.

How many countries are there in the Southeast Asian Games?

What are the 11 ASEAN countries? Southeast Asia is made up of eleven countries that are quite close geographically: Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Which country has the most medals at the SEA Games?

Thailand is the overall champion, with a total of 6472 medals, of which more than a third are gold (2345). Indonesia is on the second step of the podium with no less than 5550 medals. Malaysia completes the podium on the third step with its 4435 medals.

Will Cambodia host the SEA Games?

Yes, for the very first time in its history. Cambodia is hosting the 32nd edition of the SEA Games with 11 nations from across the region competing in Phnom Penh from May 5-17, 2023. 581 events will be contested across these Games, and football is one of the most anticipated

How many sports are there at the SEA Games in Cambodia?

For this 2023 edition, 37 sports are in competition, Cambodia has decided to include its three national sports: Ouk Chaktrang (chess games), and the two very popular martial arts, Bokator and Kun Khmer ( similar to Muay Thai).

What is the age limit for SEA Games?

The SEA Games competition is only open to athletes under the age of 23. For football the category is U22.