Expanding Financial Support and Training Infrastructure for Football Following Momentum from Singapore's Asian Cup Qualification
Ministry of Culture, Community and YouthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Ms Elysa Chen’s inquiry on expanding financial support and training infrastructure for football and other team sports following the national team’s qualification for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Mr David Neo replied that Sport Singapore (SportSG) currently supports the national team through training funding, technical expertise, and access to the Kallang Football Hub. For the upcoming tournament, SportSG will collaborate with the Football Association of Singapore to facilitate enhanced overseas centralised training camps and provide additional sports science technical support. These initiatives aim to ensure a holistic set of capabilities tailored to the team's specific needs while maintaining a high-quality training environment. SportSG also remains committed to working with other National Sports Associations to develop high-performing team sports that demonstrate similar momentum and public support.
Transcript
19 Ms Elysa Chen asked the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth in light of the strong performance and public support demonstrated by the national football team in qualifying for the Asian Cup, whether the Ministry will consider expanding financial support and training infrastructure for football and other team sports that show similar momentum.
Mr David Neo: Our national football team made history by qualifying for the 2027 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup on merit. This is a significant achievement, and we are proud of the Lions.
Today, Sport Singapore (SportSG) supports Football Association of Singapore's (FAS') efforts to develop the national football team in a number of ways.
First, SportSG supports FAS for the national team's local and overseas training and competitions. Second, SportSG provides the national team access to training facilities at the Kallang Football Hub – an environment conducive for uninterrupted, high-quality training for the team. Third, SportSG provides FAS access to technical expertise, such as football performance science and coaching development.
For the AFC Asian Cup in one year's time, SportSG will work closely with FAS on their plans to prepare the national team.
First, SportSG will support enhanced overseas training for the national team, including an overseas centralised training camp. Second, SportSG will provide additional sports science technical support to complement the efforts of FAS. This will ensure that our national team is supported by a holistic set of sport science capabilities based on the specific needs of the team.
SportSG has been and will continue to work closely with the National Sports Associations to develop high performing team sports in Singapore.