Timor-Leste mistakenly blame hosts Thailand after missing SEA Games registration deadline

By Hieu Luong October 20, 2025 | 02:57 pm PT

Joao Firth (number 6) during Timor Leste's 3-0 win over the Philippines in Group A of SEA Games 32 men's football at the Olympic Stadium, Cambodia on May 4, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Hieu Luong

Timor-Leste nearly missed the men's football event at SEA Games 33 after failing to complete registration before the deadline, then blamed hosts Thailand for their error.

The SEA Games 33 Organizing Committee on Oct. 18 confirmed nine teams for men's football: Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, the Philippines and Singapore.

Timor-Leste reacted immediately, alleging Thailand had unreasonably excluded their team, prompting a backlash from local fans against the host nation.

SEA Games 33 Organizing Committee CEO and National Olympic Committee of Thailand vice-president Chaiphak Siriwat said that he was losing sleep over the reaction from Timor-Leste, affirming that no team had been removed by Thailand as the participation was confirmed through the list of teams registered, Bangkok Post reported.

Timor-Leste officials later admitted the mistake was from their staff, who failed to register the team before the deadline, and sent a formal apology to Thailand.

At the SEA Games men's football draw on Sunday, Timor-Leste were added to the tournament, joining hosts Thailand and Cambodia in Group A.

Football Association of Thailand (FAT) vice president Charnwit Polcheewin told Bangkok Post that the late change came from the SEA Games 33 Organizing Committee and they had no choice but to follow the directive.

Timor-Leste have never progressed beyond the group stage in men's football across the history of SEA Games.

Group A matches will be held at the 30,000-seat Tinsulanon Stadium in Songkhla. Groups B and C will play at Chiang Mai's 18,000-seat 700th Anniversary Stadium, with the semifinals and final at Bangkok's 51,500-seat Rajamangala Stadium.

Recent SEA Games tournaments have used U23 players.

At the previous SEA Games in Cambodia, overage players were not permitted for the men’s football event. Indonesia beat Thailand 5-2 after extra time to claim their first gold medal since 1991, while Vietnam defeated Myanmar 3-1 for bronze.

Thailand lead the all-time men's football medal table with 16 golds, followed by Malaysia (6), Myanmar (5), and Vietnam and Indonesia (3 each).