Jakarta, 29 July, 2025 – Vietnam U23 etched their name into Southeast Asian football history by becoming the first men’s team to win a regional championship three times in a row, following their 1-0 victory over Indonesia in the 2025 ASEAN U23 Championship final at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on July 29.
The win secured Vietnam’s third consecutive ASEAN U23 title, adding to their triumphs in 2022 and 2023. Out of the five editions of the tournament, Vietnam has now won more championships than all other nations combined.
This historic achievement also makes Vietnam the first Southeast Asian men’s team to claim three consecutive titles in any regional football competition. Previous tournaments such as the U16, U19 ASEAN Championships, and the ASEAN Cup (formerly Tiger Cup and AFF Cup) have only seen teams retain the title at most twice.
In the U16 ASEAN Championship, Myanmar defended their crown once in 2005 after first winning in 2002. In the U19 ASEAN Championship, Myanmar also managed back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2005. In the ASEAN Cup, Thailand came close to a three-peat on multiple occasions but saw their runs halted in 2004, 2018, and 2024 by Singapore and Vietnam.
The 2025 title also marked a personal milestone for coach Kim Sang Sik, who became the first manager to win both the ASEAN U23 Championship and the ASEAN Cup. Under his leadership, Vietnam has triumphed in every final they have played. His next goal is to secure a third major trophy at the 33rd SEA Games in December 2025. Should he succeed, Kim will match the record of legendary coach Park Hang Seo, who previously won the AFF Cup 2018 and two SEA Games gold medals.
The 2025 ASEAN U23 Championship ran from July 15 to 29 with ten teams competing, excluding Australia. Unlike the previous two editions where other coaches led the team to victory, this time Kim Sang Sik personally guided Vietnam to glory on Indonesian soil.
Adding to the historic night, striker Nguyen Quoc Viet became the first player ever to win the ASEAN U23 Championship three times, having also lifted the trophy with Vietnam in 2022 and 2023.
With this triumph, Vietnam U23 not only defended their crown but also set a new benchmark in Southeast Asian football, cementing their dominance and laying a solid foundation for future regional and continental challenges.
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