Eight Lion City Sailors players have been named in Tsutomu Ogura’s 26-strong Singapore National Team squad that will face China in back-to-back matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Round 2 qualifiers in March. 

Returning Sailor Song Uiyoung gets the nod, while Lions captain Hariss Harun along with six others – Lionel Tan, Zulqarnaen Suzliman, M. Anumanthan, Hafiz Nor, Shawal Anuar, as well as custodian Zharfan Rohaizad – have kept their places after being called up for last November’s matches against South Korea and Thailand, which the Lions lost 5-0 and 3-1 respectively. 

Should Hariss play in both games, he will hit 130 caps for the national team, as he edges closer to surpassing Khairul Amri (132), who is ranked fourth in Singapore’s all-time record appearance makers behind Daniel Bennett, Shahril Ishak and Baihakki Khaizan. 

Meanwhile, Anu will also hit the 40-cap mark with one more Lions appearance. 

The Lions will be looking to get their qualifying campaign back on track as they host China at the National Stadium on Thursday, 21 March, before facing off again away at the Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium five days later. 

The two matches will be Ogura’s first matches in charge of the Lions since being appointed head coach of the Lions on 1 February, as they target a first competitive win over China since 1983.