Mihoko Ishida names squad for AFF Women’s Cup 2026

SINGAPORE, 7 JULY 2026 – Singapore Women’s National Team Head Coach Mihoko Ishida has named a 23-player squad ahead of the 2026 AFF Women’s Cup, where the Lionesses will face Laos and hosts Malaysia in Group A.

The Lionesses open their group stage campaign against Laos on Monday, 13 July 2026, at 8.45pm local time, before facing hosts Malaysia three days later on Thursday, 16 July 2026, at 4.45pm local time. Both matches will be played at Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium.

It marks Ishida’s first major tournament in charge since taking over the team, with the 43-year-old Japanese coach retaining much of the squad from the previous international window while signalling room for fresh faces and new challenges ahead.

Said Ishida: “As a team, there are things we want to continue building, and there are also new challenges we want to embrace. We can never afford to stand still.

“I’m truly proud that so many players – both those selected for this squad and those who were not – share the same ambition of representing the national team. That competitive environment drives everyone to improve.

Turning to expectations for the tournament, Ishida added: “Our goal is to reach the final. Every player is working toward that objective with purpose and commitment. The journey is just as important as the outcome — how we prepare for each match, and how everyone, players and staff alike, works together every single day. We are one team.”

The squad, with an average age of 21, features a number of players retained from the previous June window, including experienced campaigners Tokyo Verdy’s Danelle Tan and Lioness captain Rosnani Azman, alongside Geylang’s Farhanah Ruhaizat and the duo of Sailors’ Ain Salleh and IMG Academy’s Yuvika Suresh, whose senior debuts in the last window have impressed.

New faces called up include Geylang’s Naureen Qadriyah, the Women’s Premier League’s top scorer with 11 goals, and 18-year-old Mulan Ayliffe, who plays for Partizan Belgrade in Serbia and has represented Singapore at Under-16 and Under-19 levels — both still looking to earn their senior caps.

While the likes of Mulan look to make their mark for the first time, the squad also carries players who’ve already gained valuable tournament experience. Chief among them is 19-year-old IMG Academy’s Yasmine Zaharin, who made her senior debut in the 2024 edition and has since become a regular fixture in the squad, now with 13 caps to her name.

Said Yasmine: “Over the past two years, playing in high-intensity matches has helped me grow a lot as a centreback, and I’ve learned from the more seasoned players around me — how they stay composed under pressure and approach every game.

“Going into a big tournament like AFF, it’s always a bit nerve-racking, but I’m excited — I believe our squad can do well. I want to bring that experience by staying composed at the back and doing whatever role the coaches need from me.”

The 2026 edition will be held in Kuala Lumpur from 10 to 22 July, with six teams split into two groups playing round-robin, before the top two in each group advance to the semi-finals. The top three finishers at this year’s tournament will qualify for the ASEAN Women’s Championship next year. 

Singapore’s history against both sides includes a 1-0 win over Laos in the 2024 edition — a then-16-year-old Cara Chang scoring the winner in the 22nd minute to send the Lionesses through to the semi-finals — and a goalless draw with Malaysia at the 2022 AFF Women’s Championship in Manila. 

This will mark Singapore’s eleventh appearance at the tournament across both its current and former formats – the Lionesses had qualified for the 2025 edition on merit after finishing third in 2024, but withdrew due to fixture overlap and player welfare considerations.

Centralised training began on 30 June, and the squad will depart for Kuala Lumpur this Saturday, 11 July.

Singapore’s AFF Women’s Cup 2026 group stage fixtures

Singapore Women’s National Team AFF Women’s Cup 2026 squad