Filipina5 battle on the futsal court during the women’s competition of the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, carrying the Philippines’ colors in their historic campaign. (Photo from Philippine Women’s Futsal Facebook)
BANGKOK—The Philippine women’s futsal team saw its breakthrough run come to a halt but not its medal hopes, bowing to Vietnam, 1-0, in the semifinals of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games on Tuesday at the Bangkokthonburi University Gym.
A single goal from Tran Nguyet Vi midway through the second half proved decisive in a tightly contested match that underscored how narrow the margins have become at the regional level. The strike in the 25th minute denied the Filipina5 a place in what would have been a historic first SEA Games final, but it did little to diminish the significance of their campaign.
The Philippines entered the tournament as newcomers to the medal rounds and emerged as one of its most competitive sides, pushing a seasoned Vietnamese squad deep into the match before conceding the lone breakthrough. The loss marked the first time the Filipina5 had been beaten in the knockout stage, a sign of both progress and growing expectations for the program.
With the semifinal setback behind them, the Filipina5 now turn their attention to the bronze-medal match against host Thailand on Thursday. A win would secure the country’s first-ever SEA Games futsal medal, a milestone that would cap a tournament already defined by firsts.
Vietnam advanced to the gold-medal match where it will face Indonesia, which edged Thailand in a dramatic semifinal decided on penalties after a 4-4 draw at the end of regulation.
For the Philippines, the journey continues. What began as a historic semifinal appearance now shifts toward an opportunity to finish on the podium—an outcome that would further validate the team’s steady rise in Southeast Asian futsal.
