Road to the semi-finals of the 2025 ASEAN Women’s Championship

The ASEAN Women’s Championship — officially known as the ASEAN MSIG Serenity Cup — has kicked off with great excitement and after just eight days of competition, the group stage has come to an end to make way for the decisive stage: the semi-finals.

The eight teams — Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, Philippines, U-23 Australia, Cambodia and Timor-Leste — entered the tournament with different hopes, goals and strategies. However, only the top four teams made it to the semi-finals.

This article will analyze in detail how each team qualified for the semi-finals, the scoreboard, notable matches, as well as the context and significance of these results.

Ranking criteria and tiebreak

First, to understand how teams reach the semi-finals of the ASEAN Women’s Championship , we need to know the rules for ranking when teams are tied on points. The organizing committee applies the following criteria in turn:

Scores in head-to-head matches.

Goal difference in head-to-head matches.

Number of goals scored in head-to-head matches.

If more than two teams are tied, reapply the above criteria to the group of teams still tied.

Total goal difference.

Total goals scored in the whole group.

If only two teams are equal on points and meet in the final match, a penalty shootout will be held to decide.

Disciplinary points (yellow card: -1, indirect red card: -3, direct red card: -3).

Lucky draw.

Group A: The overwhelming strength of Vietnam and Thailand

Group A Standings

RatingTeamBattleWinPeaceLoseDifferencePointNote1Vietnam (Q)3300+149Semi-finalist2Thailand (Q)3201+136Semi-finalist3Campuchia (E)3012–131Disqualified4Indonesia (E)3012–141Disqualified

(Q: Qualified — Semi-finalist, E: Eliminated — Eliminated)

Group A developments

Right after the first two matches, Vietnam and Thailand were soon certain to advance.

Match 1 (August 6): Thailand beat Indonesia 7–0, Vietnam beat Cambodia 6–0.

Match 2 (August 9): Cambodia lost to Thailand 0–7, Indonesia lost to Vietnam 0–7.

Match 3 (August 12): Vietnam beat Thailand 1–0, Cambodia tied Indonesia 1–1.

With two consecutive crushing victories, Thailand scored 14 goals and conceded none. Vietnam also showed similar strength, scoring 13 goals and keeping a clean sheet before defeating Thailand in the final match to take the top spot in the group.

Vietnam — Experience and class

Vietnam entered the tournament with an experienced squad, including two players with more than 100 appearances for the national team, along with seven others with over 50 appearances, many of whom have participated in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

They not only rely on individual skills but also organize their play reasonably, are solid in defense and sharp in attack. The 1–0 victory over Thailand in the final round is a testament to the ability to control the game and the bravery of the Vietnamese girls.

Thailand — Youth and Aspiration

Unlike Vietnam, Thailand brought a youthful squad with only one player over 23 years old. This helped them play dynamically, press continuously and create big wins against Indonesia and Cambodia.

Despite losing to Vietnam in the final round, Thailand still showed that they are a strong candidate for the championship of this year’s ASEAN Women’s Championship .

Cambodia and Indonesia — Efforts but lack of breakthroughs

Both Cambodia and Indonesia finished Group A with one point after a 1–1 draw. Cambodia finished above them on goal difference. However, the gap in skill between them and the top two teams is huge, as shown by heavy defeats to Vietnam and Thailand.

Group B: Drama until the last minute

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Group B Standings

RatingTeamBattleWinPeaceLoseDifferencePointNote1Myanmar (Q)3210+47Semi-finalist2U-23 Australia (Q)3201+96Semi-finalist3Philippines (E)3111+64Disqualified4East Timor (E)3003–190Disqualified

Group B developments

Match 1 (August 7): Myanmar beat U-23 Australia 2–1, Philippines beat Timor-Leste 7–0.

Match 2 (August 10): Timor-Leste lost to Myanmar 0–3, U-23 Australia beat Philippines 1–0.

Match 3 (August 13): Philippines tied Myanmar 1–1, U-23 Australia beat Timor-Leste 9–0.

Myanmar — Durable and Sturdy

Myanmar opened with a crucial 2–1 win over Australia U-23, giving them a huge advantage for the remainder of the tournament. Having beaten Timor-Leste 3–0 in the second round, they only needed a draw with the Philippines in the final round to secure top spot in the group — which they did with a 1–1 scoreline.

Myanmar’s style of play is based on solidity in defence and the ability to take advantage of good opportunities. This is the second consecutive time they have reached the semi-finals of the ASEAN Women’s Championship .

U-23 Australia — Attacking Power

After losing in the opening match, U-23 Australia quickly regained their form, defeating defending champion Philippines 1–0, then destroying Timor-Leste 9–0 in the final match to secure a ticket to the semi-finals.

Their fast playing style, abundant physical strength and ability to score from many positions are their strengths. Despite being a young team, the U-23 Australia team has proven that they are capable of facing national teams in the region.

Philippines — The disappointment of the defending champion

The Philippines started impressively with a 7–0 win over Timor-Leste, but a 0–1 loss to U-23 Australia complicated the group stage. In the final round, they had to beat Myanmar but could only draw 1–1, thereby officially losing the chance to defend the championship.

Timor-Leste — The Distance is Still Far

Having lost all three matches, conceding 19 goals and failing to score any, Timor-Leste have shown that they need more time to catch up with the regional level. However, participating in the ASEAN Women’s Championship is still a valuable opportunity for the team to learn and gain experience.

Semi-finals: Promising Matches

At the end of the group stage, the 4 teams entering the semi-finals are:

Group A winner: Vietnam

Second place in Group A: Thailand

Group B winner: Myanmar

Group B runner-up: U-23 Australia

According to the format, the first team in Group A will meet the second team in Group B and the first team in Group B will meet the second team in Group A. This means:

Vietnam vs U-23 Australia

Myanmar vs Thailand

Both matches promise to be dramatic, with one side boasting youth and speed, the other side boasting experience and tactics.

The significance of this year’s semi-finals

The 2025 ASEAN Women’s Championship semi-finals are not only a race for the title but also reflect the development trend of women’s football in the region:

The rise of youth teams like the Australia U-23s.

The stability of the “big guys” like Vietnam and Thailand.

Strong competition from Myanmar.

This year’s tournament also shows that the gap between the top and bottom teams is still quite large, but the participation of teams like Cambodia and Timor-Leste is a good sign for the spread of women’s football.

The four semi-finalists have all proven their mettle in a challenging group stage. Vietnam and Thailand continue to assert their leading positions, Myanmar maintain their stability, and U-23 Australia bring a breath of fresh air.

When the semi-final whistle blows, the audience will witness the ultimate confrontation, where tactics, bravery and the desire for glory converge. And with just two more matches, we will know who will become the new champion of this year’s ASEAN Women’s Championship .

FAQ

Which teams are in the semi-finals of the 2025 ASEAN Women’s Championship?

The four teams entering the semi-finals are Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and U-23 Australia.

How did Vietnam win first place in Group A?

Vietnam won all three group stage matches, scoring 14 goals, conceding none and defeating Thailand 1–0 in the final round.

Why was the Philippines eliminated?

Philippines only won 1, drew 1 and lost 1, unable to overcome Myanmar and U-23 Australia to enter the semi-finals.