The organizing committee for the 33rd SEA Games has proposed a new regulation that could prevent striker Nguyen Xuan Son from participating in the Southeast Asian sporting event scheduled for December 2025. Recently, the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) and the National Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) convened to discuss plans for organizing SEA Games 33. Among the key topics was the age restriction for players in the men’s football competition.
Kongsak Yodmanee, Chairman of the National Sports Authority, proposed a rule that limits teams to players under the age of 22 (U22), eliminating the allowance for two over-age players in the squad. This change would mark a significant shift from recent SEA Games tournaments, where the use of over-age players provided strategic advantages to several teams.
In previous editions, Vietnam leveraged the over-age player allowance to great success, claiming consecutive gold medals at SEA Games 30 and 31 under coach Park Hang Seo. The inclusion of experienced players proved vital to Vietnam’s dominance in those tournaments. However, at SEA Games 32, when the over-age rule was removed, Vietnam, led by coach Philippe Troussier, managed only a bronze medal.
If Thailand implements this proposed regulation, it will significantly impact the plans of coach Kim Sang Sik, who had expressed his desire to include Nguyen Xuan Son in the squad for SEA Games 33. The 27-year-old naturalized striker was a standout performer for Vietnam at the ASEAN Cup 2024, earning both the tournament’s Best Player and Top Scorer awards. His experience and form would have been a considerable boost to Vietnam’s bid for another gold medal.
The potential regulation reflects Thailand’s focus on fostering young talent by emphasizing the development of players in the U22 age bracket. While this could level the playing field for youth development across Southeast Asia, it would simultaneously reduce the strategic depth available to teams that rely on senior players to guide and stabilize their squads during high-stakes matches.
The final decision on the proposed regulation will be made during an upcoming meeting of the Southeast Asian Sports Council, where member nations will deliberate on the rule change and its implications for the competition. Additionally, the council will finalize plans for the group stage format in the men’s football tournament.
If approved, the regulation will challenge Vietnam and other participating nations to adjust their strategies, relying exclusively on young talents. It will also intensify the competition by putting a spotlight on emerging players, potentially reshaping the dynamics of men’s football at the SEA Games 33.
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