Thai media stunned as Vietnam dominates four Southeast Asian arenas alone

Thai newspapers are amazed as Vietnam completes the collection of four regional titles, from U17 to the national team, affirming its absolute dominance in Southeast Asia.

The 3-0 victory over Malaysia U17 in the final on April 24th not only secured a convincing championship for Vietnam U17, but also forced regional media to reconsider the landscape of Southeast Asian football. The Thai newspaper Krian Buriram praised coach Cristiano Roland and his team for completing an impressive unbeaten journey.

Notably, Thai media asserts: "Vietnam – the king of Southeast Asia", and emphasizes that the team "made history by winning all regional tournaments they participated in from the 2025/26 season". This is considered a rare acknowledgment from a footballing nation that has been a direct competitor with Vietnam for many years.

According to Krian Buriram, the 2026 Southeast Asian U17 championship is the final piece that helped Vietnamese football complete its collection of titles at all levels. Previously, the national team crowned itself at the AFF Cup 2024 after defeating Thailand in the final, while Vietnam U23 maintained its top position with a streak of three consecutive regional championships.

Not stopping there, Vietnam U23 also demonstrated impressive stability at the SEA Games by winning up to 3 Gold Medals in the four most recent editions, including 2019, 2021, and 2025. This achievement shows superiority not just in one generation, but the sustained strength of the entire youth training system.

The Thai newspaper also emphasized that Vietnam has "swept all regional titles", from U17, U23 to the national team. Titles such as Southeast Asian U17, SEA Games, Southeast Asian U23, and ASEAN Cup are listed as clear evidence of a rare period of dominance in the history of regional football.

Besides praising the achievements, Thai media also pointed out the foundation behind Vietnamese football's success. A systematic youth training system, along with the long-term development strategy of the Vietnam Football Federation, has created abundant resources, helping the national teams maintain competitiveness at all levels.

Concluding the article, Krian Buriram acknowledges: "It must be admitted that Vietnam is truly the number one in Southeast Asia". This is not just praise, but also confirmation of the superior status of Vietnamese football currently, after a period of comprehensive flourishing from youth to the national team.