Cambodia’s national men’s U23 football team will face off against Vietnam at 8pm tonight, July 22, in a decisive match. The result will determine which side will advance to the next round of the ASEAN U23 Mandiri Cup 2025. Meanwhile, the national women’s team is regrouping in anticipation of the upcoming ASEAN MSIG Serenity Cup.
The Cambodia U23s currently rank second in Group B of the Mandiri Cup, after a 1-1 draw with Laos in their opening match on July 16. Vietnam is temporarily at the top of the group, having defeated Laos by a commanding 3-0 scoreline on July 19. Laos is now eliminated from the competition, having recorded one draw and one loss.
Tonight’s Cambodia-Vietnam clash, at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Indonesia, is effectively a knockout match, with the winner advancing to the semi-finals. The next round will feature the top team from each of Groups A and C, along with the best-performing second-placed team from the three groups.
Cambodia’s chances of progressing to the next stage are seen as slim, given the strong form and quality of the Vietnamese squad. Vietnam is determined to maintain their momentum and defend their championship title, having won the tournament in both 2023 and 2024.
In Group A, host nation Indonesia has secured first place after completing the group stage with two wins and one draw. In Group C, Thailand U23 is currently in first place, following a 4-0 win over Timor-Leste. Their final match is against Myanmar U23, who previously drew 4-4 with Timor-Leste. Like Group B, Group C also consists of three teams.
Meanwhile, the Cambodian women’s national team, which recently hosted the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 qualifications, will soon return to camp for the ASEAN MSIG Serenity Cup 2025, scheduled to take place in Vietnam from August 6 to 19. Cambodia has been placed in Group A alongside Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. Group B consists of the Philippines, Australia, Myanmar and Timor-Leste.
A total of 23 players have been called up for the training camp, but the roster features many changes. Nine players from Phnom Penh Crown and another seven from other clubs, who all participated in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers (June 29–July 5), were not included in the training squad.
No official reason was given for the absence of the 16 players, despite their solid performances, which helped Cambodia secure one win, one draw and one loss in Group G of the qualifiers. However, it has been widely reported that the nine Crown players are preparing for the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025/26 preliminary stages.
Phnom Penh Crown will host Group E of the qualifiers and are scheduled to face East Bengal FC of India on August 25, followed by Kitchee SC from Hong Kong, on August 28. The club is placing a great emphasis on the competition, as it marks a historic milestone for Cambodian women’s football — Cambodia’s first-ever participation in the AFC Women’s Champions League.
