The Singapore Lions will participate in the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup later this year, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) confirmed on Thursday, July 30, 2026. Singapore is drawn into Group A alongside Indonesia, India, and Malaysia, with group stage matches scheduled to be played in Indonesia.

The tournament is set to run from September 24 to October 3, 2026, coinciding with an official FIFA international window. It features 14 teams divided into two divisions: the Premier Division (Division 1) and the Challenge Division (Division 2). The Premier Division consists of two groups of four teams each, with Group B including Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Pakistan. Following a single round-robin group stage, the top team from each group in both divisions will advance to their respective finals.

The FIFA ASEAN Cup was announced in October 2025 as part of a collaboration between FIFA and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to promote football development across the region. This announcement was made during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, where FIFA President Gianni Infantino and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn signed a renewed memorandum of understanding.

FAS General Secretary Badri Ghent expressed support for the tournament, stating, “We welcome opportunities to participate in tournaments like this because they contribute to the broader development of Singapore football.” Lions head coach Gavin Lee added that the competition would provide "another opportunity to test ourselves and see where we are as a team."

Sources