 2005 AFF U-23 Youth Championship winners Thailand were the defending champions, as there was no competition from 2006 to 2018, as the 2011 edition has been cancelled.The 2003 ASEAN Club Championship invited the Indian club, East Bengal, till they become a champions, but this tournament not invited Australian National U-22 Team to participated here as the outside-Southeast Asia participant.There was no qualification, and all entrants advanced to the final tournament.