Southeast Asian Games 2025/26

The Southeast Asian Games football tournament is a biennial multi-sport event competition rather than a standalone league or a pyramid tier with promotion and relegation. It is organized by the Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF), originally founded as the SEAP Federation in 1959 by Luang Sukhum Nayapradit. The men's football tournament was first included in the 1959 edition in Bangkok, while the women's tournament debuted in 1985. The tournament is not part of the AFC pyramid; it is a regional multi-sport medal event supervised by the Olympic Council of Asia. The format typically involves a group stage followed by knockout rounds. In the 2025 edition (33rd SEA Games), 10 teams competed in three groups (A: 2 teams, B: 3 teams, C: 4 teams) after Cambodia's withdrawal, with the top three group winners and the best runner-up advancing to the semi-finals. The men's tournament has used Under-23 teams since 2001 (previously U22 before 2017), allowing a limited number of overage players, distinguishing it from the senior AFF Championship. Thailand holds the record for most men's gold medals (16), while Vietnam leads in women's golds (8). Vietnam won the most recent men's gold in 2025, defeating Thailand 3–2 in extra time. Notable finals include the 2023 final where Indonesia beat Thailand 5–2 in a chaotic match with 7 red cards. The all-time top scorer record remains unconfirmed in available sources.