What are waiting Southeast Asian countries in their upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup/2023 AFC Asian Cup quest?

The drawn has made many ASEAN sides facing their own tasks with a lot of difficulties. However, this is typical since ASEAN zone is mostly regarded as a blackwater for many football pundits, due to its low international recognition in the footballing stage. Excluding Australia, the abnormal member of AFF that has the football capability beyond the reach, I take my personal discussion with the remaining national teams of Southeast Asia in their final pushes to get further attention.

The Philippines can make surprises

Group A: the Philippines have never been known as a football nation, and we can thank the Americans for that: colonisation, the introduction of English and America-based sports like basketball and boxing meant the country has languished outside the world's football map. From 2010s, the Philippines however started its football revival, which culminated in the country's greatest success up to date: 2019 AFC Asian Cup, which was the first time the Philippines qualified for a major competition. Of course, the country lost all games, but for a football debutant, it is necessary.

I don't think the Philippines would ever qualify for a World Cup sooner or later, but with the path of rebuilding football is right on track, the Philippines can hope for another Asian Cup return, this time for China 2023 edition - the country has proven its stubbornness by keeping China goalless at Bacolod, and performed well against Syria, though losing both matches. Even it's possible if the Azkals can reach the third, and final stage of AFC qualification, but with a condition, they have to overcome China on Chinese soil, which isn't easy overall, Guam and the Maldives are too weak for the Pinoys today.

Singapore can win matches, but don't hope much

Group D: Singapore is impressing in the qualifiers when the country at third place behind Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan with seven points. There is a chance for Singapore to become the dark-horse, potentially, if they continue this scale of performance. Best proven is Singapore's two famous wins over Palestine and Yemen, debutants of 2019 Asian Cup, both 2-1.

Sadly, I have a pessimistic feeling for Singapore when they have to deal with Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan in the second leg. This is because Saudi Arabia has been an Asian powerhouse, while Uzbekistan has always been very difficult for the Singaporeans - let's not forget Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan both netted Singapore three goals each, all brought victories for these countries, at the previous leg. The returning encounters may stay the same. So, don't pray for Singapore much in World Cup, let's say they have the potential to enter the 2023 Asian Cup qualification phase.

Cambodia? No way!

Group C: to be honest, the moment Iran defeated Cambodia by 14 to nil nailed out all the situation Cambodia had faced. Already in a very undeniably difficult group, Cambodia was thwomped by every opponent in their group. Hong Kong, the weakest team Cambodia could face, even gained four points from facing the Angkor Warriors. Now having to travel to Bahrain for their decisive games, Cambodia could not hope for a single win, nor even a draw, when Bahrain and Iraq are at heights while Iran is unwilling to lose any points.

Cambodia has made clear it has no room to ever qualify for a World Cup sooner or later, and could only look for the Asian Cup in China, but even with this mission is hard as well because they could face their more powerful ASEAN neighbours or teams from other parts of Asia like India and Tajikistan - both are stronger than Cambodia. God know how will the Cambodians make their head through or not.

Myanmar is not even a team

Group F: when Myanmar stunned Tajikistan 4-3 in Mandalay, the Burmese marked its comeback by further beating Mongolia 1-0 to secured six points, as well as the possibility to fight for a leading second place. Unfortunately, Myanmar was plagued by the coup in early 2021, resulting in members of the national team refusing to join the national team. This created a huge test when two of Myanmar's most instrumental players, Aung Thu and Kyaw Ko Ko, who represent 50% of the team's power, absent. Thus, the German coach Antoine Hey, who has his second stint, assembled a very insecure national side with lacks of firepower or experiences.

Myanmar would be the first from Southeast Asia to open the World Cup remaining qualifier account, but its opponent appears to be Japan, the giant of Asian football. This is the biggest mountain for the Burmese and unless there is a miracle, there is no chance for Myanmar to win. And leave aside the Japanese, Myanmar has to deal with a hungry Tajik side that wants to revenge and Kyrgyzstan, which has been the kryptonite for the Burmese. So looking for Asian Cup seems the only option for Myanmar.

The insane group to decide

Group G: it was a mad group when the United Arab Emirates, the team from the Middle East, getting into facing a gang of Southeast Asians: Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia. Coincidentally, both were 2007 Asian Cup hosts, which was the UAE's nightmarish tournament when the Emiratis went out early with only a consolation win over Qatar. And somehow, the nightmare returns for the Emiratis: they languished behind Vietnam and Thailand, losing both games away before the pandemic.

Among all four Southeast Asian countries, Indonesia disappointed the most by shock when they lost all games, suffering some of the first losses (defeat to Thailand at home since 2008, first time lost to Vietnam at home in an official game), as well as losing to Malaysia twice for the first time in a major qualifier. Indonesia still wants to win, not to qualify for World Cup since they're out of contention: but rather, to embrace an Asian Cup return since 2007. Indonesia's Asian Cup record has been unimpressive by far: four times, no knockout phase. Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand are the remaining sides in battle.

The Malaysian Tigers are boasting their best performance in a World Cup qualification for the first time, including an amazing comeback over Thailand to register a 2-1 win. Their defeats to Vietnam and the UAE were also minimal. Yet, Malaysia, while being extremely paranoid, is not invincible, thus can be at risk of being exploited by the remaining sides. History lesson has told this well.

Thailand has not demonstrated the performance they used to be back in 2018 qualifiers when Thailand this time failed to register a win over Vietnam, falling to Malaysia despite a win over the UAE. With North Korea disqualified and results annulled, Thailand, like Vietnam, UAE and Malaysia's records against Indonesia, the possible dead rubber, would not be counted. This gave Thailand a grave disadvantage that even if they could beat Indonesia, but once the Thais could not overcome Malaysia, which is Thailand's problematic rival, and the UAE in Dubai, the Thais would be out of contention. Thailand has also been depleted of many good players, notably Theerathon Bunmathan, Teerasil Dangda, Kawin Thamsatchanan and maybe Chanathip Songkrasin.

Vietnam has amazed my eyes so far when in this performance, Vietnam is reigning on top, closer to the third phase. Vietnam has to thank its players by delivering 11 points, including recognised eight points on top: two wins over Malaysia and the UAE, and two draws over Thailand. But going to the Emirates would be different, requiring the Vietnamese side full energy. If Vietnam can overcome Malaysia and the UAE, not just only Indonesia, it'll be a miracle.

Expectation?

Vietnam is surprisingly holding the trump card in order to gain triumph, though it will make the Vietnamese overcome Indonesia, Malaysia and the UAE. But Vietnam's young talents are feeding a belief that "everything is possible". From what I saw of the Vietnamese side and the VFF, even when Vietnam didn't achieve success in the 2020 AFC U-23 Asian Cup, the trust in these players remains high, a strange kind of optimism that could transcend into a powerful juggernaut. I have seen this with the Peruvian national team of Ricardo Gareca despite Peru's unsuccessful 2016 Copa América and difficult opening 2018 World Cup qualifiers, sensing some similarities here.

Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore are hanging between. Thailand and Malaysia are on the same bench as Vietnam and Indonesia, but only one will stay fighting along with the duo. Either Thailand or Malaysia will go through, or both will go out. The Philippines and Singapore are also not in position to fully decide themselves.

Cambodia and Indonesia have been unpromising. But Cambodia is understandable due to its young, inexperienced side. Indonesia is in a shamble, they won no game, no point, conceding 16 goals in return, despite its status as a paranoid national team in the ASEAN. Many could see how internal conflict within PSSI (Indonesian Football Federation) affect the Garuda.

Myanmar killed themselves. The coup and subsequent unrest have pushed the national side into complete jeopardy. They have the chance but they are gonna crash out if this continues.