U19 Timor Leste and U19 Myanmar are officially out of the 2026 U19 ASEAN tournament after two straight defeats, whereas U19 Vietnam enjoys a major advantage in the battle to reach the semifinals.
After two rounds in Group A of the 2026 U19 Southeast Asian Championship, U19 Timor Leste and U19 Myanmar have become the first two teams to exit the tournament. Their consecutive losses mean neither can still compete for a semifinal berth, even though the final round has not yet been played.
In the second round, U19 Myanmar continued to disappoint by losing heavily to U19 Vietnam with a score of 0-5. The white-shirted side could barely withstand the relentless pressure from coach Yutaka Ikeuchi's squad. After trailing by two goals in the first half, Myanmar's defense entirely crumbled in the second half, conceding three more goals. This marked their second successive defeat in this year's competition.
Meanwhile, U19 Timor Leste also failed to cause an upset against the host nation U19 Indonesia. The young Timorese team lost 0-3 and remained pointless after two matches. With no points earned and a very poor goal difference, their chances of advancing officially ended before the final round.
The Group A scenario now boils down to a contest between U19 Vietnam and U19 Indonesia. Both sides have 6 points from two wins, but U19 Vietnam currently leads thanks to a superior goal difference. This gives the Vietnamese representatives a considerable advantage ahead of the decisive final-round clash.
According to the tournament rules, only the group winner is assured of a semifinal spot. Therefore, the showdown between U19 Vietnam and U19 Indonesia is regarded as the "Group A final". With their current goal-difference advantage, coach Yutaka Ikeuchi's team only needs a draw to retain the top position and secure their place among the top four.
Although already eliminated, the encounter between U19 Timor Leste and U19 Myanmar in the final round still carries significance for pride. Both teams aim to earn their first points of the tournament before returning home. Meanwhile, the focus of Group A will shift to the match between U19 Vietnam and U19 Indonesia, where the semifinal ticket will be officially decided.