Bangkok, 18 December 2025 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has assigned Iranian referee Mooud Bonyadifard to take charge of the SEA Games 33 men’s football final between U22 Vietnam and U22 Thailand, a match that will decide the gold medal on the biggest stage of the tournament.
The AFC has officially appointed referee Mooud Bonyadifard of Iran to officiate the men’s football final of SEA Games 33 between U22 Vietnam and U22 Thailand. Alongside him, the two assistant referees will be Ildorom Alireza, also from Iran, and Bang Ji Yeol of South Korea, forming an experienced international officiating team for the decisive clash.
Mooud Bonyadifard is a familiar figure for Vietnamese football fans, having been involved in several important matches featuring Vietnam at both senior and youth levels. In 2022, he served as the main referee in the 2022 World Cup qualifier in which Vietnam defeated Malaysia 1-0 at My Dinh Stadium, a crucial victory during Vietnam’s historic World Cup qualifying campaign. His performance in that match was widely regarded as solid and professional.
At the AFC Asian Cup 2023, held in early 2024, Bonyadifard continued to be trusted by the continental body when he was assigned as the fourth official in the group-stage match between Vietnam and Japan. Although that role was less visible, it further underlined AFC’s confidence in his experience and consistency at the highest level of Asian football.
Most notably for the current generation of players, Bonyadifard was also the main referee at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2024, where U23 Vietnam secured a 2-0 victory over U23 Malaysia. Several members of the current U22 Vietnam squad featured in that match, including Khuat Van Khang and Nguyen Thai Son. In that game, Van Khang left his mark with a superb free-kick goal, a moment still remembered by fans.
The appointment of an experienced AFC referee has drawn attention amid ongoing discussions about officiating standards at SEA Games 33. With Vietnam and Thailand being the two most successful teams in the region, the final is expected to be intense, highly competitive, and emotionally charged, placing significant responsibility on the refereeing team to ensure fairness and control throughout the match.
The SEA Games 33 men’s football final between U22 Vietnam and U22 Thailand will kick off at 19:30 tonight. The match is set to be played at Rajamangala Stadium, where both teams will aim not only for victory, but also for regional pride and the coveted gold medal.
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