The Vietnam U22 national football team has garnered significant financial recognition following their triumphant performance at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in 2025, where they clinched the coveted gold medal. As of December 21, the team, under the guidance of head coach Kim Sang Sik, has received an impressive incentive allowance totaling approximately $137,000 (3.6 billion VND) from the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and various dedicated sponsors. This figure is not yet final, with further support and encouragement anticipated from additional sponsors.
The substantial prize money underscores the team’s achievement, particularly their memorable 3-2 victory over host nation Thailand in the final match held at Rajamangala Stadium. Beyond the general sponsorship linked to their gold medal success, several specific bonuses have been awarded. The VFF contributed approximately $22,800 (600 million VND) after the team’s decisive win against Malaysia during the group stage. An additional $19,000 (500 million VND) was provided by the VFF to Coach Kim Sang Sik’s squad following their semi-final victory against the Philippines in the men’s football tournament.
Further financial backing came from a pre-game promise by the VFF, delivering $38,000 (1 billion VND) to the team. This was matched by Pham Hoanh Son, President of Hong Linh Ha Tinh Club, who personally offered an equivalent bonus of $38,000 to the victorious Vietnamese team. Collectively, other sponsors have contributed an additional $19,000 (500 million VND) in recognition of the gold medal team’s outstanding performance throughout the competition.
In addition to these collective bonuses from the VFF and sponsors, each individual player is set to receive a separate incentive bonus of $700 directly from the Vietnamese government for their role in securing the SEA Games gold medal.
The SEA Games triumph in Thailand further highlights the remarkable success of coach Kim Sang Sik. He has swiftly led the team to championship victories in three distinct regional events within a short timeframe. These recent regional accolades for Vietnam include the ASEAN Cup 2024, the U23 ASEAN Cup, and, of course, the recent SEA Games gold medal, marking a truly prolific period for Vietnamese football.
