In 2001 it was decided that only U23 players will play in the event. In 2017, the participating countries agreed to change that to U22. Two years later hosts Philippines decided to allow teams to use two overage players.

Do Hung Dung (L) is an overage player that helped Vietnam win gold medals in SEA Games 30 and 31.

Last year Vietnam increased that to three and changed the age limit back to U23 since the games were postponed by a year from 2021 due to Covid-19.

Cambodia wanted to keep the extra slots this year, but the Asian Football Confederation requested the teams to field only U22 players.

Vietnam made the most out of the two events that allowed overage players, winning gold medals in both.

SEA Games 32 will be held in Cambodia from May 5 to 17 this year. The men’s football event will begin earlier, on April 29.

Vietnam will be managed by the newly appointed national head coach Philippe Troussier.

French football manager Troussier reaches initial agreement to coach Vietnam national team

French manager Philippe Troussier has reached a preliminary agreement with Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) to become the new head coach of Vietnam's national football team.

Vietnam to use VAR technology at top-tier football tournament

The video assistant referee (VAR) system will be trialled at Vietnam’s top-tier football competition, V.League 1, in 2023, as announced by the VPF, the company that runs professional football tournaments in Vietnam.

Japanese football club signs Vietnamese striker

Striker Nguyen Cong Phuong has joined topflight Japanese club Yokohama FC after his contract ended with domestic club HAGL.

Coach Park wants more Vietnamese to play football overseas

Vietnam head coach Park Hang-seo asked domestic clubs to create more overseas football opportunities for players as the national team aim for World Cup qualification in 2030.

31 footballers called up to practise for AFF Cup 2022

Coach Park Hang-seo has called 31 players to prepare for the AFF Cup later this year.

Source: VnExpress