Bangkok, 26 November 2025 – Severe flooding in southern Thailand has forced organizers to relocate all Group B matches of men’s football at SEA Games 33 from Songkhla to Bangkok, creating major logistical changes just days before the tournament begins.
On the evening of November 25, the SEA Games 33 Organizing Committee made a major decision to relocate all Group B matches of the men’s football tournament from Songkhla to Bangkok. The adjustment comes as severe flooding in southern Thailand continues to compromise safety and logistics, making Songkhla unable to host large-scale sporting events.
Songkhla, located nearly 1,000 km from the capital, had been assigned to host 10 sports at SEA Games 2025. Group B of men’s football — featuring U22 Vietnam, U22 Malaysia and U22 Laos — was originally scheduled to kick off on December 4 at Tinsulanon Stadium. While the pitch itself remains unaffected by floodwater, the surrounding areas have been heavily impacted. According to Dr. Kongsak Yodmanee, Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), multiple key transport routes around the stadium are unsafe for teams, referees and officials.
Speaking to the media on November 25, Dr. Kongsak confirmed that emergency relocation procedures had already been activated. Two alternative venues in Bangkok — Rajamangala Stadium and Thammasat Stadium (Rangsit) — were evaluated, with the final decision to be announced within the week to allow participating teams sufficient time to adjust.
Clarity arrived by noon on November 26, when Colonel Chaiphak Siriwat, Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, officially announced that all sports scheduled in Songkhla would be transferred to Bangkok. Continuous rainfall and rising floodwater rendered Songkhla incapable of hosting any major sporting activity, forcing a complete restructuring of the SEA Games 33 venue plan.
The relocation affects not only men’s football but also a wide range of other sports originally assigned to Songkhla, including judo, karate, pencak silat, wrestling, wushu, chess, pétanque and Muay Thai. The shift requires organizers to reorganize facilities, competition schedules and accommodation capacity within the capital. Under the updated plan, Group B — featuring U22 Vietnam — will now take place at Thammasat Stadium.
As a result, U22 Vietnam will now play their two group-stage matches against U22 Laos (December 4) and U22 Malaysia (December 11) in Bangkok, a city with superior infrastructure, more stable transportation, stronger broadcast capability and safer conditions compared to flood-stricken Songkhla.
However, the last-minute venue change — coming just over a week before kickoff — has inevitably disrupted preparation for all teams involved. Notably, this marks the second time Group B’s venue has been altered, after an earlier relocation from Chiang Mai to Songkhla.
U22 Vietnam, led by coach Kim Sang Sik, are currently training at Ba Ria Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City. The team will have four more training sessions before departing for Thailand on December 1, maintaining their focus on achieving the best possible results at SEA Games 33 despite the unexpected and complex changes.
Thuy Duong
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