With the kick-off of the ASEAN U-23 Mandiri Cup™ 2025 fast approaching, we take a look at some of the young players who could make a big impact in ASEAN’s premier international youth tournament, which will be played in Indonesia from 15 to 29 July.
After finishing runners-up at the last ASEAN U-23 Championship two years ago and reaching the AFC U-23 Asian Cup in Qatar last year, much will be expected of hosts Indonesia at the Mandiri Cup™ 2025, which is a showcase for ASEAN football’s rising stars.
Centre-back Muhammad Ferarri (pictured above in white) and forward Rafael Struick were key players for the Garuda in both tournaments, and they have been called up again as Indonesia attempt to win the ASEAN U-23 title for the second time, following their maiden victory in 2019.
Ferarri was a team leader and rock in defence for Indonesia in the two competitions and the 22-year-old, who recently left Indonesian league giants Persija Jakarta to join newly promoted Bhayangkara Persisi, also captained Indonesia’s senior team at the ASEAN Championship last December.
At the other end of the pitch, Netherlands-born Struick is a tall and versatile forward who can be deployed as either a striker or winger. A product of the Dutch football development system, the 22-year-old scored the goal of the tournament at last year’s AFC U-23 Asian Cup with a magnificent right-footed curler against Korea Republic in the quarter-finals.
Hà Nội FC midfielder Nguyễn Văn Trường was part of Vietnam’s winning squad at the ASEAN U-23 Championship two years ago but, after being used mainly as a reserve at that event, the 21-year-old will be looking to play a more influential role this time. With a large and imposing frame, he is strong in the air and retains possession well for his team.
Defensive midfielder Nguyễn Thái Sơn, who turns 22 just a few days before the start of the tournament, brings plenty of ability and experience to Kim Sang-Sik’s squad. Named Vietnam’s Young Player of the Year in 2023, the versatile and industrious youngster played in all of Vietnam’s games at the AFC Asian Cup 2023 and AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2024, and he was also an ever-present for Đông Á Thanh Hóa FC in their campaign at the inaugural ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™.
For Thailand, Buriram United FC attacking midfielder Seksan Ratree, 22, is expected to be a key figure. A talented attacker with excellent passing and dribbling abilities who can be deployed as a central midfielder or winger, Seksan will be looking to build on his experience of the past year. He represented his country at the AFC Asian Cup 2023 and ASEAN Championship 2024, and he also helped Buriram to win four competitions in the 2024/25 season, including the Shopee Cup™.
Centre-back Ubaidallah Shamsul could be influential for Malaysia as they look to improve on their fourth-place finish in 2023. The solidly built 21-year-old is an excellent defender who is strong in the tackle. He is a good distributor, capable of breaking opposition defensive lines with his incisive passing. He played every minute of Malaysia’s campaign at the AFF U-23 Championship two years ago and also appeared in all of Terengganu FC’s matches in last season’s Shopee Cup™.
Another Malaysia U-23 player to appear for his club in the Shopee Cup™ was striker Haqimi Aziz, who played in all five of Kuala Lumpur City FC’s games and scored the winner in their 1-0 win over Kaya FC-Iloilo of the Philippines. The 22-year-old was not involved in the ASEAN U-23 Championship in 2023 but he played for the senior team in the last two ASEAN Championships in 2022 and 2024.
The Mandiri Cup™ 2025 will kick off on 15 July with Malaysia facing the Philippines and hosts Indonesia taking on Brunei Darussalam in Group A matches at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. The matches in Group B, which features Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, and Group C, which includes Thailand, Myanmar and Timor-Leste, will be played at Patriot Stadium in Bekasi.
The winners of each of the three groups plus the second-placed team with the best record at the end of the group stage will progress to the semi-finals, which will be played on 25 July. The final will be held at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on 29 July.
Follow the ASEAN U-23 Mandiri Cup™ 2025 LIVE. Find out where you can watch the games here. You can also follow the action on @aseanutdfc on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, X and LinkedIn.
Share now
