However, the AFF decided to change the schedule from 8 December 2024 to 5 January 2025 to avoid conflicts with continental club competitions.

[2] Vietnam secured their third title after defeating the two-time defending champions Thailand by a 5–3 aggregate score in the two-legged final.

On 4 July 2024, the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) has officially confirmed the comprehensive use of video assistant referee (VAR) technology during the tournament.

[9][10] To ensure uniformity and professionalism, the VAR system will be managed by a third-party provider rather than utilising the resources available in member countries.

Following the end of the Group A match between Malaysia and Singapore at Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur with subsequent Malaysia elimination, a group of Malaysian fans began showing a disrespectful acts by holding the Singapore flag upside down.

[33] This violent attitude from irresponsible Malaysian fans were also shown earlier when one of them were arrested by police for the murder of a woman.

[35][36] During the 2nd leg semi-finals match between the Philippines and Thailand at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, the Thai side missed out on two penalty kicks when two Filipino players committed handball in the penalty area, but the Japanese referee who officiated the match, Kimura Hiroyuki, still allowed the game to continue without checking on the video assistant referee (VAR).

[37] Later during the build-up to Thailand's goal on the 37th minute, it appeared as though the ball was already out of bounds before it was shifted back in by Seksan Ratree, who crossed it into the box for Peeradol Chamrasamee.

There was also a handball incident outside the penalty box by goalkeeper Nguyễn Đình Triệu interrupting goal scoring opportunity for Suphanat Mueanta in the 62nd minute.

This year's competition also illustrated many amateur mistakes by authorities, such as scheduling issues, causing most teams to play their multiple matches within less than 72-hour time period, affecting after-match recovery, leading to multiple injuries due to excessive workload compared to the importance and stance of the competition.

When the organisers awarded the medals, Tiến Linh himself did not realise this, where he and his teammates continued to celebrate and lifted the cup as usual.

[47] On 10 January 2025, the Organising Committee received the official complaint and apologised for the unexpected incident with a genuine gold medal to be awarded to Tiến Linh.