Thailand Considers Indonesia U-23 a Threat in its 2025 SEA Games Gold Hunt

JAKARTA - The men's soccer event at the 2025 SEA Games will take place in Thailand from December 3-18, 2025. As the host, Thailand is certainly determined to win gold.

However, in that effort, the Indonesian U-23 team is considered a threat that could hinder Thailand's pursuit of gold at the 2025 SEA Games. This was conveyed by the coach of the White Elephants, Wang Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul.

"From the ASEAN Championship (2025 AFF U-23 Championship), we see Vietnam as one of our competitors, along with Indonesia (U-23)."

"Just like Malaysia, we are also disappointed with the (results of) the ASEAN Cup (AFF Championship). We continue to prepare. We will not underestimate other countries," Thawatchai said, as reported by TH Sport on Thursday, November 13, 2025.

The Thai coach's statement is not without reason, as on paper, the Indonesian U-23 team is a formidable opponent.

This was evident in the semifinals of the 2025 AFF U-23 Championship, when Indonesia U-23 defeated Thailand to advance to the final.

Although the Indonesia U-23 team also lost to Vietnam U-23 in the final, the match record still makes Ongtrakul believe that Vietnam and Indonesia U-23 are the strongest contenders at the 2025 SEA Games.

Furthermore, at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, Thailand lost to Indonesia U-23 in the final. Now that they are the host nation, it's not impossible that Thailand will want to make up for that loss.