The Cambodian U19 women's national team kick off their ASEAN U19 Girls' Championship journey in Vietnam this afternoon. FFC
Cambodia’s U19 women’s national football team will kick off their campaign in the 2025 ASEAN U19 Girls’ Championship this Monday afternoon at 3pm in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Despite being one of the least experienced teams, the Cambodian side enters the competition with the ambition to achieve a new milestone for the nation.
Placed in Group B, they will open their tournament against Malaysia at Dat Duc Stadium. Also in Group B are Thailand’s powerhouse squad and Indonesia, who will face off at the same time to compete for 3 crucial points.
In Group A, hosts Vietnam will take on Myanmar, while Laos will face Timor-Leste, also today. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals on June 16, with the final set for June 18.
Among the four teams in Group B, Thailand is considered the strongest. They have a proven track record, having won the ASEAN U19 Championship twice (in 2014 and 2023) and finishing third in 2022. Indonesia’s U19 team reached the semifinals in 2023, ultimately placing fourth.
The team training today in Vietnam as they prepare to take on Malaysia at 3pm. FFC
Neither Cambodia or Malaysia has ever progressed beyond the group stage. This makes today’s match especially crucial for both sides, as it may be their best chance to collect 3 points before facing tougher opponents, when advancing becomes significantly more difficult.
Chheun Nipha, head coach of Cambodia’s U19 women’s team, addressed a Sunday press conference.
“We had only a short time to prepare, but our players are ready for the matches here. We hope all our games will be exciting and competitive,” she said.
Cambodia has sent a squad of 23 players to participate in the tournament. The athletes were selected from a pool of 39 players through a rigorous testing process, and though they may have less experience and skill compared to other teams, they are highly motivated.
Coach Nipha noted that the tournament is a valuable opportunity for young Cambodian players to develop their skills, but also that they aim to bring new achievements for the nation through their participation in the ASEAN U19 Championship.
Head coach Chheun Nipha is confident that the squad will do their utmost to bring honour to the Kingdom. FFC
“The players brought here are those we want to see grow, so that one day they can compete at the highest level with the senior national team. We are here with the goal of bringing home a new achievement for our country. We hope to receive support from all Cambodian fans to give our players the strength and spirit to fight for the nation,” she said.
