SEA Games 2023: Singapore to face Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand in men’s football group stages

The Singapore Under-22 men’s national football team will face defending champions Vietnam and last year’s runner-ups Thailand in group stages at the upcoming SEA Games. 

Causeway rival Malaysia and Laos were the other teams drawn into the group. 

This year’s SEA Games will be the 32nd edition of the competition, and will be held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia between May 15 and 17.

Having last won a bronze medal back in 2013, Singapore has since failed to progress out of the group stages in the last four editions of the competition.

The Singapore U22 team will kick off their campaign against Thailand on Apr 30. 

The team will go into the tournament after a series of poor results. At the recent Merlion Cup, Singapore suffered losses to Hong Kong and Cambodia. The Young Lions are also last in the SPL, losing six times in seven games. 

In the women’s competition, Singapore were drawn into Group B with Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.

The Lionesses will play against Thailand on May 3, Cambodia on May 6 and end the group stages against Laos on May 9. All games will be played at the Smart RSN Stadium. 

In the recent Olympic 2024 qualifiers campaign, Singapore lost 6-0 against Thailand and drew 1-1 against Mongolia. 

The finals of the SEA Games football competition will take place on May 15 and 16 for the women’s and men’s teams respectively.