South East Asian Games

Football has been part of the SEA Games sport since the 1959 edition. The women's football competition was held for the first time in 1985 in Thailand.

From the 2001 SEA Games to the 2015 SEA Games and again since 2021 SEA Games, the men's teams was restricted to under-23 plus additional three over-23 players maximum for each squad.

Since the 2017 SEA Games, the age limit for men's teams is under-22. At the 2019 SEA Games, two over-aged players were allowed for each team while the 2023 edition and 2025 edition saw no overage players allowed.

Thailand and Vietnam are the only two nations to have won both the men's and women's gold medals in a Southeast Asian Games football tournament. Thailand achieved this feat five times (in 1985, 1995, 1997, 2007, and 2013), while Vietnam accomplished it twice in 2019 and 2021. Furthermore, they are the only two nations to win every gold medal in the women's Southeast Asian Games football tournament that was played.

The South East Asian Games (SEA Games) is a premier multi-sport event held biennially among the nations of Southeast Asia. Featuring a wide range of sports, including football (soccer), the tournament brings together athletes from countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei, and Timor-Leste. The soccer competition showcases the region's top talent, fostering regional camaraderie, sportsmanship, and healthy competition. With passionate crowds and intense matches, the SEA Games soccer tournament serves as a platform for emerging players to demonstrate their skills and for nations to celebrate their sporting achievements in a vibrant and festive atmosphere.