Singapore’s Under-17 Women’s National Team are set to represent the nation on home soil as they host the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-17 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifier (China 2026) this week from 13 to 17 October 2025. The young Lionesses will face Australia and the Northern Mariana Islands in Group E of the qualifying campaign, marking an important step in their development under Head Coach Matias Martinez.
“Our preparation has been good,” said Martinez. “The players are absorbing the whole experience and the journey leading up to this tournament. They’re well prepared, and they’re working hard as well. We have just had a few players come from overseas, and now that we’ve got the full squad training together, everything’s going well.
“The girls are putting in all the hard work and hard effort, and hopefully we’ll see some good performances in the two games that are ahead of us.”
Singapore will face the Northern Mariana Islands on Wednesday, 15 Oct, before taking on a much-vaunted Australian side two days later, and Martinez is looking for his charges to hit some specific targets.
“Some of the goals that we’ve set are more based on individual goals for players,” said Martinez. “Hopefully, if we can nurture that talent and they start to grow and then proceed on to playing for the Under-19s, then hopefully for the senior team as well.”
“We set them focus areas that we want them to sort of demonstrate on game day and see how they can demonstrate that and how they can best execute those individual focus areas.”
Captain Celine Koh, who will lead the team once again after featuring in the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) campaign earlier this year, is looking forward to the campaign.
“I’m really honoured to be representing my country and having the chance to do it again after the AFF campaign,” said Celine, who is excited at the prospect of playing in front of family and friends.
“We’re ready to show what we’ve got, and really play with all that we have.”
The Group E qualifying campaign will kick off on Monday, 13 Oct, with the Northern Mariana Islands facing Australia. Singapore will then take on the Northern Mariana Islands two days later, before closing the campaign on Friday, 17 Oct, against Australia.
All games will be played at Bishan Stadium, with kickoff set for 7.30pm.
Tickets for all matches are available on Ticketek.
