In the 12 previous tournaments, Thailand holds the record with four championships, while Vietnam has three. However, this year, the landscape has shifted. With the rise of the Philippines, the emergence of Myanmar, and guest participant Australia, the two Southeast Asian powerhouses find themselves competing for the bronze medal.

In the group stage, Vietnam defeated Thailand 1-0 thanks to a lone goal from Thu Thao. But the scoreline didn't fully reflect the run of play. Thailand frequently outplayed Vietnam, creating several dangerous opportunities.

Thailand hasn't won the tournament since 2018, finishing second in 2022 after losing to the Philippines. As a result, they are rebuilding with a squad mostly under 23, aiming to reclaim their throne in the future—with the immediate target possibly being the SEA Games at the end of 2025. Therefore, they also value the bronze medal as motivation for their young players.

Vy Anh