Football: Singapore Names Final Under-22 Squad for 2025 SEA Games in Thailand
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Singapore grouped with favourites Thailand after group reshuffle following Cambodia's withdrawal from the 33rd SEA Games
SINGAPORE, 29 NOVEMBER 2025 – The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has announced the final 23-man squad that will represent the nation at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, set to take place from 3 to 18 December 2025. The confirmation follows weeks of preparation, including an intensive overseas training camp and two high-level friendlies.
Singapore Drawn Into New Group A After Tournament Reshuffle
Originally placed in Group C, Singapore’s Under-22 men’s football team has been re-drawn into Group A, joining hosts Thailand and Timor-Leste, after Cambodia withdrew from the tournament. All Group A fixtures will be played in Bangkok, with Singapore kicking off their SEA Games campaign against Timor-Leste on 6 December at Rajamangala Stadium. The team will then face Thailand on 11 December.
Under the revised competition format, the three group winners and the best runner-up across all groups will progress to the semi-finals.
A Young, Promising Squad With an Eye on the Future
This year’s Singapore Under-22 squad features an especially youthful core. Twelve players are eligible for the 2027 SEA Games, while five players born in 2008 will still be eligible for the 2029 edition, which Singapore will host.
Several players have already gained valuable exposure at the senior level during Singapore’s AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. Defender Amir Syafiz, who captains the Under-22 side, earned two senior caps during the campaign, including the Lions’ 2-1 win over Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Fairuz Fazli, Jonan Tan, Ong Yu En, and Raoul Suhaimi were involved in senior camps across various international windows in 2025.
In domestic football, many of these rising stars have made significant contributions in the Singapore Premier League (SPL). Young Lions regulars Raoul Suhaimi and Aqil Yazid have each played all 450 available minutes this season, while Ong Yu En and Fairuz Fazli have averaged more than 70 minutes per match. Another standout is 17-year-old midfielder Nathan Mao, who accumulated 321 minutes over four SPL appearances and is regarded as one of the most exciting prospects in the pipeline.
Coach Firdaus Kassim: “They Are Ready to Step Up”
Head Coach Firdaus Kassim expressed confidence in his players’ readiness as they head into the regional competition.
“We’ve seen several of the younger boys step up throughout our preparations – in training and in the two matches in Dubai, and we believe they are ready to make the step up and contribute,” he said. “Bringing them into campaign squads will also help accelerate their development.”
The team recently returned from a nine-day training camp in Dubai (11–19 November), where they faced the Under-22 teams of both the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iraq. Firdaus emphasised that the focus was on performance, cohesion and improvement.
“We want to see clear progress in how we play, how we compete, and how we deal with difficult moments. If we get these things right, we’ll be moving in the direction we want.”
Captain Amir Syafiz: “We Want to Make Singapore Proud”
Captain Amir Syafiz echoed his coach’s confidence, praising the team’s growth over the past month.
“The camp in Dubai taught us a lot about ourselves, and we’ve been pushing each other every day,” Amir said. “As a group, our goal is simple – to represent Singapore with pride and commitment. We know what it means to wear the flag on our chests, and we want to make Singapore proud.”
Singapore U-22 Ready for SEA Games Challenge
With a blend of youthful talent and emerging senior-level experience, Singapore’s Under-22 squad will enter the 2025 SEA Games eager to make an impact. Their opening match against Timor-Leste could set the tone for a campaign that promises development, ambition and national pride. #SEAGames2025 #Footbal