'Our 12th man on the pitch': Ogura calls for fans' support ahead of South Korea World Cup qualifier

Source: CNA

SINGAPORE: The Singapore national football team faces a Herculean task to reach the third round of Asia's 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Not only must the Lions win their two remaining Group C games - at home against powerhouses South Korea and away to Thailand - they will also have to overcome a double-digit goal difference to stay in the running.

Qualification is also not in the team's hands as China just needs a point to eliminate Singapore.

But ahead of South Korea's visit on Jun 6, new head coach Tsutomu Ogura has called on Lions' supporters to act as "our 12th man".

Releasing ticketing details on Tuesday (Apr 30), the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) said fans can buy tickets as early as Thursday if they register on the Ticketek platform and get themselves on the pre-sale waitlist that is already open.

Given an "anticipated surge in demand", fans are "strongly encouraged" to register for the waitlist, with registration closing at noon on Wednesday, FAS added.

Public sales will start on Friday at noon and continue until the matchday itself, and prices will range between S$10 to S$40 across five categories.

While Singapore were on the receiving end of a 5-0 hammering in Seoul last November, Ogura has seen signs of improvement in the two games he has taken charge of.

With group leaders South Korea six points ahead of third-placed Thailand on top of a superior goal difference, a win over the Lions will secure passage to the next round.

The Taegeuk Warriors are also expected to field a plethora of stars at the National Stadium, including Tottenham Hotspur skipper Son Heung-min, Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan and Bayern Munich defender Kim-Min Jae.

Ranked 23rd in the world, South Korea are the second-highest team in Asia after Japan, while Singapore are placed 155th, according to world football governing body FIFA.

Although Ogura is under no illusions about the "very tough challenge" against "one of the best teams in Asia", the Japanese is heartened by the team's battling displays against China, drawing 2-2 at home and putting up stiff resistance before a 4-1 away loss.

South Korea will also have a new face in the dugout, with Hwang Sun-hong taking over on an interim basis after Jurgen Klinsmann was sacked in February in the wake of their Asian Cup disappointment.

"I hope our fans saw the fight that our team put up in both matches against China," he said. "We will need a full capacity support of our fans to be our 12th man on the pitch and give the Koreans a tough game."