Vietnam's rise to the top
After a year of underwhelming performances under coach Philippe Troussier, Vietnam made a historic comeback under coach Kim Sang-sik. The team went unbeaten at the Southeast Asian tournament, setting a record with seven wins and one draw.
While rivals like Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia struggled with preparation and did not have the strongest squad for the tournament, Vietnam played cohesive and disciplined football. Their campaign was marked by tight defensive work, conceding only six goals, the second-fewest after Malaysia and Indonesia, two teams that exited from the group stage.
Thailand's heartbreak
Thailand, the defending champions, failed to secure their eighth title, leaving fans disappointed. After winning all matches in the group stage, they faced unexpected challenges in the knockout phase. A 1-2 loss to the Philippines in the first leg of the semifinals forced them into extra time in the second leg, where Suphanat Muenta's late header sealed a dramatic 3-1 victory.
However, Thailand fell short in the final, losing 1-2 in the first leg in Vietnam and 2-3 in the second leg at Rajamangala Stadium. This was the first time Thailand lost both legs of an ASEAN Cup final. Their performance also drew criticism for unsportsmanlike moments, including Supachok Sarachat’s controversial goal and Patrik Gustavsson’s act of throwing Vu Van Thanh’s shoe off the field.
Shining performance of naturalized striker Nguyen Xuan Son
Brazilian-born striker Nguyen Xuan Son left an undeniable mark on this ASEAN Cup, despite limited appearances. After missing the first three matches due to FIFA naturalization regulations, he made an immediate impact with seven goals in just four matches and was named MVP and top scorer of the tournament.
Son’s scoring efficiency was unmatched, averaging 56 minutes per goal. His dynamic performances, including a stunning brace in the first leg of the final, showcased his ability to turn games around. Unfortunately, a serious injury in the second leg ended his tournament early.
Indonesia and Malaysia disappoint
It was a forgettable tournament for Indonesia and Malaysia as they were both eliminated from the group stage.
The 2010 champions Malaysia drew 2-2 with Cambodia, narrowly beat Timor Leste 3-2 and failed to score in a lackluster 0-0 draw with Singapore, ending their campaign in disappointment.
The performance of Indonesia were similarly underwhelming, managing just four points in the group stage. This contrasted their display at the 2026 World Cup third round of qualifiers when they used the strongest line full of naturalized players.
Indonesia’s early elimination from the 2024 ASEAN Cup might have contributed to coach Shin Tae-yong’s dismissal, although the Football Association of Indonesia affirmed multiple times that this tournament was not their priority.
Weaker teams showed progress
While Indonesia and Malaysia stumbled, several lower-ranked teams showed significant improvement. Cambodia scored two goals against Thailand and Malaysia, though they ultimately lost both matches. Myanmar and Laos also competed closely with higher-ranked opponents, making Group B’s qualification dramatic until the final round.
This progress among Southeast Asia’s weaker teams indicates increasing competitiveness, a positive sign for the region’s football development.
A tournament of goals
The 2024 ASEAN Cup saw 91 goals in 26 matches, averaging 3.5 goals per game, the highest since 2004 with 113 goals.
Thailand topped the scoring chart with 25 goals, including a record-breaking 10-0 win over Timor Leste in the group stage. The tournament’s only goalless game was Malaysia’s 0-0 draw with Singapore.
Young stars emerged
Several young talents emerged as standout performers like Bui Vi Hao of Vietnam (pictured) started in five games, contributing a goal and an assist against Myanmar.
Other rising stars included Jonathan Khemdee, Suphanat Mueanta (Thailand), Bjorn Martin Kristensen, Sandro Reyes, Zico Bailey (Philippines), Muhammad Ferarri, Marselino Ferdinan (Indonesia), Sa Ty, Sieng Chanthea, Sor Rotana (Cambodia), Zenivio (Timor Leste) and Peter Phanthavong (Laos).
VAR sparked controversy
The introduction of VAR to this year’s tournament received mixed receptions. While it added a layer of accuracy, it often disrupted the flow of matches and increased the injury time significantly.
One notable incident was Supachok Sarachat’s controversial goal against Vietnam in the second leg final, which was allowed despite breaking unwritten fair-play rules. The decision, which followed a lengthy VAR review, led to 15 minutes of injury time in the second half.
VAR was also criticized when it disallowed a spectacular volley by Son in the semifinals against Singapore (pictured).
Grueling schedule
The ASEAN Cup’s dense schedule placed physical strain on players, with a round-robin, home-and-away format that requires a game to take place every three days. The finalists had to play eight matches in just 30 days.
This demanding schedule prevented several nations from calling up their best squads. Frequent travel, coupled with the short recovery time between matches, left teams struggling to maintain peak performance.
Artificial grass criticism
According to Siam Sport, the fact that some teams were playing on artificial turf made the ASEAN Cup 2024 lose its excitement. In particular, the Philippines chose Rizal Memorial as their home stadium, where they remained unbeaten, drawing 1-1 with Myanmar and 1-1 with Vietnam in the group stage before beating Thailand 2-1 in the first leg of the semifinals.
The first leg of the semifinals between Singapore and Vietnam was also played on artificial turf. Singapore were forced to choose Jalan Besar Stadium, because the National Stadium, which was used in the group stage, was scheduled for a concert.
