Brazil, Japan, and Paraguay will compete against each other and the Singapore national team during the Mizuho Blue Challenge – The Kallang Football Series Singapore from Nov 13 to 17. Organizers The Kallang Group and Dentsu Sports International announced the event on Sept 3, featuring four matches at the National Stadium.
Match Schedule and Ticket Pricing for the Kallang Football Series
The tournament opens on Nov 13 with Singapore facing Paraguay. The following day, Nov 14, features a rematch of the Brazil and Japan’s World Cup round-of-32 clash. The series concludes on Nov 17 with two matches: Singapore against Brazil, followed by Japan facing Paraguay.
Ticket prices vary by match. According to the organizers, seats for the Singapore-Paraguay opener start at $28. Tickets for the Brazil-Japan match start at $98. Fans can also purchase a single ticket starting from $98 to watch both fixtures on Nov 17. Sales open Sept 4 at 12pm via The Kallang’s website.
Did you know? The 2014 Brazil-Japan match at the National Stadium was the first sold-out ticketed event at the venue, drawing 51,577 spectators and featuring four goals from Neymar.
Asian Cup Preparation for Singapore and Japan
The November window will serve as crucial preparation for Japan and Singapore ahead of the Jan 7 to Feb 5 Asian Cup, the continent’s showpiece. Record four-time winners Japan are in Group F, alongside defending champions Qatar, Thailand and Indonesia.
Lions head coach Gavin Lee stated these matches are invaluable because they test the team and highlight areas for improvement. Singapore faces a difficult draw in Group D of the Asian Cup, where they will play World Cup participants Australia and Iraq, as well as Tajikistan.
Japan’s head coach Hajime Moriyasu noted that Paraguay and Brazil both finished higher than Japan at the most recent FIFA World Cup, making this a valuable opportunity to evolve before the January tournament.
Brazil’s Strategic Cycle Under Carlo Ancelotti
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti described the Singapore friendlies as an important step in building the national team for the coming years. He stated that facing Japan and Singapore will allow the team to observe team behavior in different contexts, which is essential at this early stage of the cycle.
This visit follows a previous trip to Singapore where Brazil recorded two 1-1 draws against Senegal and Nigeria. Ancelotti emphasized the goal is to strengthen identity and expand options with balance.
Pro Tip: When tracking the Lions’ form, look at their recent ASEAN Championship performance. While they lost to Thailand 3-4 on aggregate in the semi-finals, they secured a 2-1 win in the second leg in Bangkok—their first away win over the War Elephants since 2009.
Diplomatic Ties and Regional Sporting Growth
The showcase is supported by title sponsor Mizuho Financial Group and coincides with the Singapore-Japan 60th Anniversary celebrations. Dentsu Sports Asia managing director Tomonori Ito said the event uses a shared passion for football to bring people together as part of the SJ60 celebrations.
Daryl Yeo, The Kallang Group’s chief operating officer and chief experience officer, stated the inaugural tournament is a milestone in the company’s growth and reflects a commitment to bringing premier sporting action to Singapore.
Comparison of Recent Singapore vs. Japan Encounters
| Year | Location | Result | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Saitama | 0-0 Draw | Izwan Mahbud made 18 saves |
| 2015 | Singapore | 3-0 Japan | Match played five months after Saitama |
Frequently Asked Questions
When do tickets for the Mizuho Blue Challenge go on sale?
Tickets go on sale at 12pm on Sept 4 through The Kallang’s official website.
Which teams are participating in the November series?
The tournament features Brazil, Japan, Paraguay, and Singapore.
What other tournaments is Singapore playing in soon?
Singapore will compete in the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup from Sept 24 to Oct 3, facing Indonesia, Malaysia, and Bangladesh.
Join the Conversation: Which matchup are you most excited to see at the National Stadium? Let us know in the comments below or subscribe to our newsletter for more sports updates.
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