The Singapore Women’s National Team’s AFF Women’s Cup 2026 campaign kicks off tomorrow (13 July) against familiar opposition — Laos, a side the Lionesses last met in the group stage of the 2024 edition, where a first-half strike sent Singapore through to the semi-finals.
The Lionesses arrived in Kuala Lumpur yesterday (11 July), drawn in Group A alongside Laos and hosts Malaysia, and held their first training session on Malaysian soil shortly after touching down.
Laos, meanwhile, have already opened their own campaign, playing hosts Malaysia to a 1-1 draw last Friday (10 July) — meaning they arrive at the Singapore fixture with a competitive match already under their belt.
With three important points up for grabs, Head Coach Mihoko Ishida said at the pre-match press conference at Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium earlier today: “We’ve watched the game, and we think Laos is really a good team to play against. We’ve prepared what we can and want to bring that to the fore in a positive way.”
Singapore midfielder Lim Li Xian echoed Coach’s sentiments: “We watched Laos’s match against Malaysia, and it showed us both teams are strong — that’s why we can’t underestimate them tomorrow, they’ll be hungry for three points too. We’re competitive within our own team, pushing each other to new heights, so everyone’s looking forward to the challenge.”
Despite that competitive edge within the squad, the 30-year-old — who has 39 international caps to her name — believes a key part of tomorrow’s approach will be staying calm, advice she’s been sharing with the squad’s younger players. With the team averaging just 21 years of age, Li Xian’s experience has been a steadying presence in the squad ahead of the opener.
“We all need to be a bit more level-headed to allow our talent to shine, without it being clouded by nervousness or anxiety — which is normal. The senior players and I are just trying to give encouragement to the younger ones. They know that they’re talented, but they also need to know how to channel their energy in the right direction.”
It’s a message that dovetails with what Ishida has been drilling into the squad in the build-up.
“We shouldn’t fear making mistakes or things not going well. We should let go of that fear and win the next moment,” said Ishida — one of the key points she’s continued to reinforce heading into tomorrow’s match.
The Lionesses will open their AFF Women’s Cup 2026 campaign against Laos tomorrow, 13 July, at Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium, with kick-off set for 8.45pm local time.
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