Southeast Asian fans collectively erupted as Vietnam surged up the FIFA rankings

The December FIFA rankings stirred excitement among Southeast Asian supporters, as Vietnam made a significant leap, becoming the focus of discussion across the region.

The latest FIFA rankings release sparked mixed emotions among Southeast Asian football fans, with Vietnam and Singapore climbing sharply, while Malaysia dropped significantly due to off-field issues.

According to the December 2025 update, Thailand ended the year as the top ASEAN team, despite slipping one place and falling outside the top 95 globally. However, the spotlight was firmly on Vietnam, which rose 3 places to reach 107th in the world, ranking among the strongest risers worldwide in this ranking period. Singapore also recorded a similar rise of 3 spots, reflecting clear improvements in points and performance.

On regional football forums, many Southeast Asian fans praised the Vietnamese team. An Indonesian user commented: “Vietnam is advancing rapidly; they are much more consistent than the rest of ASEAN”.

Thai fans also acknowledged: “The gap between Thailand and Vietnam is no longer wide; in fact, Vietnam is developing at a better pace”. Meanwhile, a Singaporean supporter observed: “This ranking shows that long-term investment and tactical discipline remain crucial factors”.

In stark contrast to the positive atmosphere surrounding Vietnam, Malaysia became the most negatively mentioned name. The team dropped 5 places to 121st globally after losing 22.52 points, the biggest decline in the December rankings. This was due to FIFA awarding 0-3 losses in three friendlies for fielding ineligible players.

Fans in the region were quite critical of Malaysia. A Filipino supporter wrote: “Malaysia is making things difficult for themselves; this is no longer about performance but poor management”. A Thai account was even more blunt: “You can’t blame FIFA; mistakes are mistakes, and the rankings reflect the reality”. Even Malaysian fans expressed disappointment, saying: “The steep drop is the price to pay for opaque decisions”.

From a broader perspective, many Southeast Asian fans believe this FIFA ranking clearly shows two opposing trends in the region. On one side are teams rising steadily through consistent point accumulation like Vietnam and Singapore; on the other are teams held back by off-field problems. “ASEAN is clearly divided; those who perform well move forward, while those who make mistakes get left behind”, a widely shared comment on regional social media.

Closing out 2025, the FIFA rankings are not just dry numbers but a mirror reflecting how each Southeast Asian football federation operates and chooses its development path.