The men's football tournament at the 2025 SEA Games () was held from 3 to 18 December 2025. It was the 33rd edition of the men's SEA Games football tournament. Teams participating in the men's competition were restricted to under-22 players (born on or after 1 January 2003).

Indonesia were the defending champions, having won in 2023, but they failed to get past the group stages as they were defeated by the Philippines and failed to get the best second-placed team to advance to the semi-finals (scored one goal fewer than Malaysia), which marked the first time since 2019 that a defending champions, the first time for Indonesia's team since 2009 were eliminated in the group stage and the first time since 1993 that a defending champions (also Indonesia) failed to retain their title. The Vietnamese went on to win their third title (as unified country) and fourth title (in total) in history by defeating Thailand 3–2 in the final. For Thailand, this was the first time since 1967 that they failed to achieve a gold medal on their home soil.

Schedule The schedule is as follows.

+LegendGSGroup stageSemi-finalsBBronze medal matchFGold medal match

Wed 3 Thu 4 Fri 5 Sat 6 Sun 7 Mon 8 Tue 9 Wed 10 Thu 11 Fri 12 Sat 13 Sun 14 Mon 15 Tue 16 Wed 17 Thu 18 GS GS GS GS GS GS SF B F

Venues

BangkokRajamangala Stadium Capacity: 51,560Chiang Mai 700th Anniversary Stadium Capacity: 17,909

Squads

Each team had to submit a squad of 23 players, three of whom had to be goalkeepers. All players have to be born on or after 1 January 2003.

Draw The draw for the groups was held on 19 October 2025, 13:00 ICT (UTC+7). The ten teams were drawn into three groups of four or five teams each. The hosts Thailand were automatically seeded into Pot 1 and placed into the first position of Group A, while the remaining teams were seeded into their respective pots, based on their previous performance.

Originally, Timor-Leste was not included among the confirmed entrant teams. Timor-Leste alleged that they had been omitted but later apologized and was granted entry regardless.

Cambodia originally were drawn to Group A but withdrew, citing safety reasons raised by Cambodian officials. As a result, Singapore, who were originally drawn in Group C, were moved to Group A to balance out the number of teams in each group. Pot 1Pot 2Pot 3

Group stage The group winners and the best runners-up advanced to the knockout stage, which began with the semi-finals.

All times are local, ICT (UTC+7).

Tiebreakers The ranking of teams in the group stage was determined as follows: Points obtained in all group matches (three points for a win, one for a draw, none for a defeat); Goal difference in all group matches; Number of goals scored in all group matches; Points obtained in the matches played between the teams in question; Goal difference in the matches played between the teams in question; Number of goals scored in the matches played between the teams in question; Fair play points in all group matches (only one deduction could be applied to a player in a single match): Drawing of lots.

Group A

Group B

Group C

Ranking of second-placed teams Only the best second-placed team will advance to the semi-finals.

Knockout stage

In the knockout stage, if a match was level at the end of normal playing time, extra time was played (two periods of 15 minutes each) and followed, if necessary, by a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner.

Bracket

Semi-finals

Bronze medal match

Gold medal match

Statistics Goalscorers

Final ranking

See also Football at the 2025 SEA Games – Women's tournament

References

Notes