Singapore in 2034 World Cup. Can make it or not?

[True Believer]

We must be realistic, world cup for sg is a pipe dream. Could happen in a 1000 years though.

If S'pore joins Malaysia and Indonesia as co-hosts, the dream of World Cup qualification would become a reality. LOL!

 

[True Believer]

the idea was good want to follow J league K league but unwilling to spend so ended up with the all rejects.
Even China Malaysia knows how to spend on ex top level players at least those players have more value.

Our SPL clubs need to be financially much stronger to be able to attract better quality foreign signings and make a professional career in soccer a viable option for locals. Revenue from sales of match tickets and merchandise can only increase significantly by bringing up the overall standard of the SPL; fans will not part with their hard earned money unless they are sufficiently entertained.

 

[True Believer]

The lack of talent and passion isn’t just down to the players. It is an indictment of our coaching, philosophy and fans. This is why S'pore is a footballing nation in decline. However, there is no reason why we cannot emulate other small countries in the future by doing well in the region. S'pore’s small citizen population of 3.7 million is often cited as the reason for our lack of success in the region. However, a similarly sized country like Uruguay, with its 3.4 million inhabitants, won the World Cup twice. Even smaller countries such as Iceland, which has 330,000 inhabitants, reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.

 

[True Believer]

The solution lies in going back to basics by drastically improving the standard of the SPL. Pragmatic S'poreans will pay for good entertainment, which is no different from soccer fans anywhere in the world. The poor atmosphere of near empty stadiums for the past few decades affects the players, who struggle to motivate themselves to perform. It is high time that the FAS works to stop the rot. The SPL must realise that it cannot compete with ‘live’ telecasts from the English Premier League (EPL), so it is foolhardy to hold our domestic games on Sat or Sun evenings. Matches should be switched to Friday nights so that spectators can go to unwind at the end of the work week. This leaves the weekends free for them to also support their favourite EPL clubs.

 

[Papsmearer]

If S'pore joins Malaysia and Indonesia as co-hosts, the dream of World Cup qualification would become a reality. LOL!

Singapore can only contribute one stadium. Not worth it for FIFA to award them world cup. Malaysia and Indonesia can contribute multiple stadiums or have them build for the World Cup. Anyway, better for Singapore not to go to World Cup and lose 10-0 every game.

 

[Papsmearer]

The solution lies in going back to basics by drastically improving the standard of the SPL. Pragmatic S'poreans will pay for good entertainment, which is no different from soccer fans anywhere in the world. The poor atmosphere of near empty stadiums for the past few decades affects the players, who struggle to motivate themselves to perform. It is high time that the FAS works to stop the rot. The SPL must realise that it cannot compete with ‘live’ telecasts from the English Premier League (EPL), so it is foolhardy to hold our domestic games on Sat or Sun evenings. Matches should be switched to Friday nights so that spectators can go to unwind at the end of the work week. This leaves the weekends free for them to also support their favourite EPL clubs.

U fucking moron. FAS is the cause of the whole problem. U expect them to "work to stop the rot"? U really have shit for brains. FAS is full of ex SAF Brigadier generals and retired Colonels parachuted in so they can keep their iron rice bowl. They know nuts about football.

 

[True Believer]

The current President of the Football Association of Singapore is Mr Forrest Li who is the founder and Chairman of the technology conglomerate Sea Group which owns Shopee and Garena. Only morons think that he is a retired SAF officer.

 

[laksaboy]

Any losers watching/following the Sinkieland Pussies? They just lost to Tim Molester. Sia suay.

 

[True Believer]

When S'pore's academy players are even worse than those from Third World countries in the region like Timor-Leste, then the future look bleak indeed.

 

[True Believer]

Any losers watching/following the Sinkieland Pussies? They just lost to Tim Molester. Sia suay.

In 2010, S'pore defied all odds to finish 3rd at the Youth Olympics Games (YOG) football competition. It seemed that this team of 15-year-old players would form the “Golden Generation” of Lions, to restore the country into a force to be reckoned with in the region. It is now 15 years since the euphoria of the YOG, and not one of those players have proven that they can compete at the highest level, by making it to the national team. In fact, hardly any of them are still plying their trade in the SPL. The captain of the YOG team and arguably its most high profile player, Jeffrey Lightfoot chose to concentrate on his studies, like the overwhelming majority of rising young talents. However, growing school commitments alone cannot be blamed for the low retention rate of promising players.

 

[Narong Wongwan]

Singapore can only contribute one stadium. Not worth it for FIFA to award them world cup. Malaysia and Indonesia can contribute multiple stadiums or have them build for the World Cup. Anyway, better for Singapore not to go to World Cup and lose 10-0 every game.

Says who? Sg got around 2 dozen sporting stadiums like Bishan, Jalan Besar just to name a few. If need be schools like raffles ACS Hwa Chong also can contribute their stadiums

 

[Narong Wongwan]

When S'pore's academy players are even worse than those from Third World countries in the region like Timor-Leste, then the future look bleak indeed.

Still not bottom of the barrel
Sg can still boast of beating Brunei the perennial whipping boys of the region

 

[True Believer]

Says who? Sg got around 2 dozen sporting stadiums like Bishan, Jalan Besar just to name a few. If need be schools like raffles ACS Hwa Chong also can contribute their stadiums

I believe that for the World Cup, minimum stadium capacities are 40,000 seats for group stage matches, 60,000 for knockout rounds and 80,000 for the opening match and Final. For the 2026 edition, I heard that a 74,000 capacity is needed to accommodate growing demand for seats for this tournament.

 

[True Believer]

Still not bottom of the barrel. Sg can still boast of beating Brunei the perennial whipping boys of the region

The traditional South East Asian whipping boys were Laos, Cambodia, Timor-Leste and Brunei. S'pore has joined these minnows.

 

[Narong Wongwan]

I believe that for the World Cup, minimum stadium capacities are 40,000 seats for group stage matches, 60,000 for knockout rounds and 80,000 for the opening match and Final. For the 2026 edition, I heard that a 74,000 capacity is needed to accommodate growing demand for seats for this tournament.

Oh my bad the sarcasm got lost

 

[True Believer]

Oh my bad the sarcasm got lost

The sarcasm was dripping from your earlier post. I just thought that I should point out that even our National Stadium is only able to host group games if ever S'pore becomes a co-host for the World Cup with our neighbours like Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

 

[Papsmearer]

Sure, Singapore can get into the 2034 World Cup, but first lawless Wrong must suck Gianni Infantino's kukujiao, and Pinky must offer his backside to be poked by him. Can or not?

 

[Narong Wongwan]

Just Lost 3-0 to Thailand
I think next 50 years also can’t make it
Just now from the 70s to now where got any improvement it’s going in gostan gear

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Curacao's population is 156,000 vs Singapore's 6.1 million.
Curacao's land area is 444 sq km vs Singapore's 730 sq km.

‘An impossibility made possible’: how tiny Curaçao made World Cup history​

Caribbean island nation is the smallest to reach the finals tournament after appointing the wily coach and drawing on diaspora

Will Unwin
Wed 19 Nov 2025

The delay in Dick Advocaat becoming Curaçao’s head coach might have been ominous but instead it was the foundation for glory. Frustrated by the national federation’s financial problems, he deferred starting until January 2024, when the problems were resolved and players paid, paving the way for a historic World Cup qualifying campaign.

Curaçao will be the smallest nation – by land area and population – to play at the World Cup after their 0-0 draw in Jamaica on Wednesday. The Caribbean island has a population of 156,000, sinking the previous record holders, Iceland, which has about 400,000 inhabitants. Last month Cape Verde were confirmed as surprise tournament debutants but the African nation is almost 10 times bigger by area than the former Dutch colony, indicating the level of achievement by Advocaat and his squad.

“It’s an impossibility that is made possible,” the winger Kenji Gorré says from the team hotel in Jamaica after two hours’ sleep. “It’s literally impossible for such a small island, such a small 150,000 population, and now to go to the biggest pinnacle of football is unbelievable.”

Advocaat initiated contact with Curaçao about the job, knowing that by the time the tournament came around he would be 78. That could be another bit of history because Advocaat may become the oldest coach in the tournament’s history, surpassing Otto Rehhagel, who was 71 years and 317 days old when he oversaw Greece’s third and final group game in 2010. Although Romania’s coach Mircea Lucescu is hoping to make it through the playoffs and take charge in North America at the age of 80.

“He’s been fantastic,” Gorré says of Advocaat. “As soon as he came in he brought a lot of experience with him. For him to believe in us and believe in our dream as well just shows also the potential that he saw, and I’m just really grateful that he said yes to the job and trusted his feeling on it. Now we’re walking in the destiny of what we’ve called.”

Advocaat was joined by his long‑time assistant Cor Pot but there was also a desire to maintain some local knowledge. The former Huddersfield and Barnsley midfielder, and Kenji’s father, Dean Gorré was kept on the staff, having worked as the interim head coach.

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Curaçao supporters in Willemstad, the capital, watch as the national team secure World Cup qualification. Photograph: Angel Batta/AFP/Getty Images
“It’s been amazing,” Kenji Gorré says. “To experience going to the World Cup with my dad being the coach and my dad leading us to the World Cup, it’s something that was only a dream. These are things that were dreamt of when I was young.

“With God all things are possible and you can see that even with a faith of a size as a mustard seed, you know, God can do a miracle. And even just for my family, like my mum, who is from Curaçao, and her mum, my grandma, and they’ve got so much family in Curaçao as well that I’m just proud. And that just does something to my soul.”

Advocaat was unfortunately absent from Kingston, having returned to the Netherlands to deal with a personal matter. When he arrived last year he set about making the national setup more professional and instilling a desire to avoid defeat at all costs. Few know better how to run camps and qualifiers.

This is Advocaat’s 10th spell in charge of a men’s national side, his previous appointments being the Netherlands (three times), the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Belgium, Russia, Serbia and Iraq.

His compatriots Patrick Kluivert and Guus Hiddink previously held the Curaçao role but neither had the impact of Advocaat. A key part of Advocaat’s plan to take Curaçao to the next level was to integrate members of the diaspora. In years gone by the Netherlands internationals Patrick van Aanholt, Gregory van der Wiel and Jetro Willems were eligible to play for Curaçao, and the current Netherlands players Jurriën Timber and Justin Kluivert have Curaçaoan heritage.

Most of the squad were born in the Netherlands, including the starting XI from the decisive draw on Tuesday night. Many of Advocaat’s charges featured for Netherlands age-group teams.

There is plenty of experience. The defender Armando Obispo has played in the Champions League for PSV, as has the striker Jürgen Locadia, who cost Brighton £15m in 2018 but is unemployed after leaving the Spanish fourth-tier side Intercity in the summer. Three of the squad play in the English Football League, including the former Manchester United midfielder Tahith Chong, the only squad member born on the island, who moved to Sheffield United from Luton in August. The former Ajax youngsters Ar’jany Martha and Sontje Hansen play for Rotherham and Middlesbrough respectively, the former PSV full-back Joshua Brenet moved to Livingston in September, and Shurandy Sambo of Burnley is on loan at Sparta Rotterdam.

The Bacuna brothers, Leandro and Juninho, have Premier League experience with Aston Villa and Huddersfield respectively. The links to Yorkshire do not end there because Kenji Gorré, who has 35 caps, moved to England when his dad joined Huddersfield in 1999. The younger Gorré came through the ranks at Manchester United before embarking on a nomadic career taking in Portugal, Qatar and now Israel.

“It’s not really sunk in yet,” says Kenji Gorré with his Mancunian twang. “What if we do get England? What if we do get Holland? What if we do get Brazil? It will be phenomenal.”

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Kenji Gorré (right) takes on Dexter Lembikisa of Jamaica during the goalless draw that secured Curaçao’s 2026 World Cup qualification. Photograph: Gilbert Bellamy/Reuters
Curaçao, situated north of Venezuela, is no longer a colony but remains within the kingdom of the Netherlands. Their first international was in 2011, having previously played as the Territory of Curaçao until the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved. In three previous World Cup qualifying campaigns Curaçao won six of 18 matches.

In the opening group phase this time they had a 100% record, defeating St Lucia, Aruba, Barbados and most notably Haiti, who will also be in North America next summer. In the third round the more established nations of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago stood in their path in a group that also included Bermuda. Kenji Gorré scored in the crucial 2-0 home victory against Jamaica last month and Bermuda were thrashed 7-0 last week to boost confidence going into the decider.

Fortitude got them through, even though there were nerves when Jamaica were awarded an injury-time penalty that was overturned after a video assistant referee consultation. Curaçao finished top of group B and delirium greeted the final whistle.

“All the emotions were flying up in the air. He goes to the VAR and he says ‘no penalty’,” says Kenji Gorré. “My heart just dropped again and we were like, wow, we are actually going to the World Cup. This is destiny. This is meant to be.”

 

[True Believer]

Curacao has a population of 156,000 while Iceland has 400,000 inhabitants. Both qualified for the World Cup while Singapore which has 3.6 million citizens, have never even come remotely close to qualification.