SEA Games 2025: Stars Who Could Dominate This Year

The SEA Games is the 33rd and will happen in December of this year; football is already taking over the games. Consisting of U23 teams with overage players, there are going to be surprises and tactical shocks on the way. More to the point, it has become a place where gamers will demonstrate they can compete at a continental level, and it will be where analysts, diligent coaches, and bettors will seek out the next knockout player.

Vietnam’s Talismanic Engine: Nguyễn Văn Trường

Vietnam’s youth system has created a conveyor belt of high-quality midfielders, and 20-year-old Nguyễn Văn Trường is distinct in his playing style like a neon flare in a foggy tactical war. At the 2024 AFF U-23 Championship, Trường both led the tournament in progressive passes per 90 minutes at 3.6, while also completing over 87% of progressive passes, and leading in pressure when comparing all U23 midfielders. Trường plays with an engine that never cools off, marrying progression with vertical passing, while also creating ball recoveries like a surgeon.

In a recent friendly against South Korea U23s, Trường was actually able to neutralise higher pressing teams by easily continuing his rotations between the 6 and 8 roles, and his tactical fluidity and IQ could be the makeup of Vietnam’s important centerpiece a month from now. For bettors focused on team consistency and control in midfield, Vietnam’s odds may shift favorably or unfavorably depending on Trường’s availability, especially in some tight knockout moments.

In a recent friendly against the South Korea U23s, Trường switched seamlessly between the 6 and 8 positions, dismantling the visitors’ high press with calculated movement. That sort of tactical adaptability could make him the heartbeat of the national side this coming December. For anyone tracking the dollars on team form and midfield control, Vietnam’s tournament odds may hinge on whether Trường is on the pitch, especially in those razor-close knockout matchups.

That influence is already visible in how sportsbooks recalibrate expectations around Vietnam’s midfield dominance. In the context of betting Philippines users, odds surrounding Vietnam have already seen subtle shifts following Trường’s standout performance in the recent King’s Cup qualifiers. Platforms are adjusting matchday props based on his expected contribution rate in key zones—an indicator of how analytics and betting markets are increasingly interlinked in SEA football.

Indonesia’s Sharpshooter: Rafael Struick

Indonesia’s Rafael Struick has matured his raw talent into clinical execution. At the 2025 Merlion Cup, he registered four goals in three games with a shot conversion rate of 42%.

What elevates him is his timing on off-ball runs and ability to stretch defenses. His hybrid role—striker and wide creator—mirrors top tactical systems in Europe.

Coach Shin Tae-yong has adapted formations around Struick’s intelligence, amplifying his threat level significantly.

Tactical Overview: Teams Leveraging Hybrid Roles

This season, the game’s brightest young stars are shining harder than ever. Yet the real story runs under the surface, where tactics have grown unexpectedly deep. Nations from Malaysia to Thailand are now rolling out hybrid attacking fullbacks, inverted midfielders, and zonal pressing shapes that lift entire lineups toward the blueprint of elite European clubs. For players like Reyes, this swift, high-density possession and sharp set-piece role feeds countless in-play scenarios—enough to catch the eye of the newest online casino platforms, where micro-betting bursts on corners, assists, and shot maps appeal to the old and young fans. His knack for threading the final ball in recovery cycles pushes his assist prop closer to the money line in larger pools of wagers.  

Another fresh wrinkle: the false 9 is finally claiming a seat at the Southeast Asia table. Where once a rigid striker was gospel, now a roaming, midfield-leaning three-man front line asks new questions. This shift alone is enough to prod analysts back to the drawing board, since it blurs tipping models, rewires possession stats, and all but guarantees a wider band of final score surprises.

Tactical Systems to Watch:

• Vietnam: 4-2-3-1 with a dual pivot—focus on vertical progression and possession recycling.
• Indonesia: 4-3-3 with overlapping fullbacks, relying heavily on wide overloads.
• Thailand: 3-4-2-1 hybrid—central overloads and positional rotations between lines.

Philippines: A Homegrown Core and a Rising Star

The Philippines may not top the pre-tournament predictions, but 21-year-old midfielder Sandro Reyes is turning heads as the heartbeat of the team. Currently with the Azkals Development Team, Reyes just wrapped up a loan in Malaysia’s Liga Super, where he averaged 2.8 key passes per match.

Under coach Rob Gier, the squad is focused on a controlled, possession-based build-up. Reyes has adapted quickly, becoming the pivot around which the team’s transitions now revolve. He can slide deep as a lone defensive screen or step up as a metronomic passer in a 4-3-3, giving the Philippines a flexible, multi-layered approach.

Key Players and Their Tactical Roles

Below is a breakdown of some players expected to play key roles, their likely positions, and tactical functions:

Player	Country	Position	Tactical Role
Nguyễn Văn Trường	Vietnam	CM/DM	Deep-lying playmaker with transitional press
Rafael Struick	Indonesia	CF/LW	Hybrid forward, wide-drift + central finisher
Sandro Reyes	Philippines	CM	Possession anchor, initiates build-up
Suphanat Mueanta	Thailand	ST	Target man, presses high, finishes counters
Luqman Hakim	Malaysia	RW	Inverted winger with overlapping synergy

Thailand’s Golden Boy Returns: Suphanat Mueanta

After a stint in Belgium, 22-year-old Suphanat Mueanta returned to BG Pathum United with sharper instincts. His 11 goals and seven assists this season reflect a maturing striker.

At the June 2025 U23 East Asia Challenge, his pressing and finishing were key to Thailand’s unbeaten run. Coach Issara Sritaro is expected to build the attack around him using flexible striker setups.

Youngsters on the Brink of Breakout

Beyond headline names, several young prospects are generating buzz behind the scenes:

• Luqman Hakim (Malaysia): Now more mature, his inverted runs and final-third intelligence could change tight games.
• Iqbal Gwijangge (Indonesia): A no-nonsense center-back with elite timing and aerial presence—possibly the next big export.
• Justin Hubner (Philippines): A Netherlands-trained defender expected to marshal a backline that historically leaks goals.
• Theeranan Sornchai (Thailand): A U20 call-up with exceptional ball retention under pressure; might break into the senior squad.

These names aren’t just potential breakout performers—they’re already influencing team shape, tempo, and bench dynamics.

Malaysia’s Tactical Bet on Dual No. 8s

Coach E. Elavarasan is banking on dual No. 8s rather than the old No.10-style creator. Arif Aiman and Azam Azmi now roam in overlapping lanes, allowing the team to skip the opponent’s midfield line and launch rapid strikes.  

The plan flashed bite in the recent 2–2 with Qatar U23, frustrating foes who had not schemed for the sudden, slashing diagonal breakaways.  

2025 Merlion Cup as a Tactical Test Lab  

Earlier this year, Singapore hosted the Merlion Cup, where Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia sharpened their strategic edges. The Philippines’ 3-5-2 buckled against Laos, exposing soft spots in its transition defensive shape.  

Runner-up Malaysia, meanwhile, gathered a fresh dossier of opponent weaknesses and confirmed the readiness of maturing stars who will lead the charge at the 2025 SEA Games.