| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host country | Indonesia |
| Dates | 22–30 September |
| Teams | 5 |
| Venue(s) | Gelora Senayan Stadium |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  Malaysia (3rd title) |
| Runners-up |  Indonesia |
| Third place |  Thailand |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 12 |
| Goals scored | 22 (1.83 per match) |
← 1977 1981 → | |
The football tournament at the 1979 SEA Games was held from 22 to 30 September in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Brunei and the Philippines did not enter. Kampuchea (then name for Cambodia), Laos and Vietnam did not participate at the Southeast Asian Games.
The competition was played in a round robin format with the five participating teams; first and second place would then play off for the gold medal.
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malaysia
|
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 6 |
| Indonesia
|
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 5 |
| Thailand
|
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 5 |
 Singapore
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | −4 | 3 |
 Burma
|
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 1 |
| Indonesia | 3–0 | Singapore |
|---|---|---|
Iswadi Idris  52' Risdianto 64' Rully Nere 80' |
| Thailand | 1–0 | Burma |
|---|---|---|
| Ratanatisoi (pen.) |
| Singapore | 0–2 | Malaysia |
|---|---|---|
| James Wong 76' Hassan Sani 84' |
| Indonesia | 1–3 | Thailand |
|---|---|---|
| Dede Sulaiman 24' |
Chuayboonchum 48', 72' Sittiporn 58' |
| Malaysia | 0–0 | Burma |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore | 2–2 | Thailand |
|---|---|---|
| Arshad Khamis 21' Wong Kwok Choy 43' |
Napatalung 5' Tingstati 89' |
| Burma | 1–2 | Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| Aye Maung 26' |
Wong Kwok Choy 32', 88' |
| Indonesia | 0–0 | Malaysia |
|---|---|---|
| Malaysia | 1–0 | Thailand |
|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | 2–1 | Burma |
|---|---|---|
| Risdianto 29' Iswadi Idris 57' |
Than Win 12' |
As Indonesia and Thailand were level on points and goals, a play-off for second place (and the right to face Malaysia in the gold medal match) was required.
| Indonesia | 0–0 | Thailand |
|---|---|---|
| Penalties | ||
Iswadi Idris  Tutuarima Joko Malis |
3–1 | Napatalung  Daoyod Dara Eowchareon |
| Indonesia | 0–1 | Malaysia |
|---|---|---|
| Mokhtar Dahari 21' |
Attendance: 85,000
| 1979 SEA Games Men's Tournament |
|---|
 Malaysia Third title |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Final result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malaysia
|
5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 8 | Gold Medal |
| 2 | Indonesia (H)
|
6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 6 | Silver Medal |
| 3 | Thailand
|
5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 6 | Bronze Medal |
| 4 | Singapore
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | −4 | 3 | |
| 5 | Burma
|
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 1 |
