According to FAT’s proposal, the 11 men’s football teams at SEA Games 33 would be divided into three groups instead of the traditional two. The three group winners and the best-performing runner-up would advance to the semifinals.

FAT stated that the change aims to shorten the tournament schedule to preserve players’ physical condition and reduce the risk of injury. In past editions, the football tournament usually started before the official opening ceremony and ended just one day prior to the closing ceremony.

As the host nation, Thailand is expected to be seeded in Group A, which would be the only group with just three teams. This format offers Thailand a competitive edge, as their players will exert less effort compared to teams in the larger groups, such as Vietnam’s U22 squad. However, the proposal still requires approval from both the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

Alongside the format change, FAT has confirmed the age restriction for the men’s football event. Only players under the age of 22 (born on or after January 1, 2003) will be eligible to compete.

SEA Games 33 is scheduled to take place from December 9 to 20 across three Thai cities: Bangkok, Chonburi, and Songkhla. Eleven teams have registered for the men’s football tournament, while the women’s event will feature nine teams.

Dai Nam