With the 2025 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games set to kick off in Thailand on 3 December, Singapore football fans are once again asking the same question: can the Young Lions finally advance past the group stage?
The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has confirmed the 23-man Under-22 squad for the Games. Singapore was initially drawn into Group C but was re-drawn into Group A following Cambodia’s withdrawal.
The group now includes Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Singapore, with all matches to be played in Bangkok.
The Young Lions will face Timor-Leste on 6 December at Rajamangala Stadium before concluding the group stage against hosts Thailand on 11 December.
Only the three group winners and the best second-placed team across all groups will advance to the semi-finals.
The squad is notably young, with twelve players eligible for the 2027 SEA Games and five born in 2008 who could also feature in the 2029 edition when Singapore hosts.
Several players, including captain Amir Syafiz, Fairuz Fazli, Jonan Tan, Ong Yu En, and Raoul Suhaimi, have already tasted senior international football.
Others, like Raoul Suhaimi and Aqil Yazid, have played every minute of the Singapore Premier League season for the Young Lions.
In an interview with tmsGOAL, Head Coach Firdaus Kassim described the team’s preparations as encouraging.
He explained that despite the lack of positive results, the team has been doing well and he’s genuinely pleased with their performance so far.
Firdaus highlighted the context of a young squad facing tough opposition.
“We are a very very young team, but I’m very happy with the way we compete and fight in each game.
“Playing against strong sides like the United Arab Emirates and Iraq in Dubai, the boys showed they can hold their own and gave a good account of themselves,” he said.
He also emphasized the long-term vision, explaining that while immediate results are important, the priority is player development.
The Young Lions are being prepared for future tournaments, including the 2027 and 2029 SEA Games, with eleven players in this squad eligible for 2027.
Looking ahead to the upcoming matches, Firdaus said the focus is on performance rather than lofty targets.
The team will approach the games with determination, ready to take on Southeast Asia’s football powerhouses and give their best.
Critics will point to Singapore’s 2023 SEA Games struggles, where the team finished bottom of its group, including a 7–0 defeat to Malaysia.
Firdaus refuses to set public targets. “It’s difficult to say we aim to get out of the group stage. The focus is on the next game, we want to be fearless on the field and hopefully turn that into positive results,” he said.
The Young Lions kick off their campaign in Bangkok on 6 December.
PHOTO: FAS