Can you hear the Lions roar again?

November 15, 2026

Dear readers,

When billionaire Forrest Li took over as president of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) 18 months ago, he promised to breathe new life into a sport that had long struggled with poor results and waning public interest.

Since then, there have been encouraging signs. The national team qualified for the Asian Cup on merit for the first time, performances have improved, and millions of dollars have been committed to developing Singapore football.

But beyond the Lions' resurgence, questions remain about the longer-term future of Singapore's football scene.

Observers say more still needs to be done to develop young talent and the competitiveness of other clubs in the domestic league aside from Lion City Sailors, a club owned and backed by Mr Li.

And even as Mr Li invests into the local football scene, experts and fans are concerned about whether Singapore can build a football ecosystem that thrives without relying on one billionaire's backing.

As Mr Li approaches the halfway mark of his four-year term as president, CNA spoke to football insiders, analysts and fans to assess what's changed, what hasn't, and whether his ambitious revival of Singapore football can truly go the distance.

Yours faithfully,

Yasmine Yahya
Deputy Chief Editor, CNA Digital (Commentaries, Features, Lifestyle & Luxury)

FAS' billionaire boss has delivered on the pitch, but bigger challenges remain