Argentina national football team, including Lionel Messi, to play exhibition match in Singapore next year

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In Singapore for an exhibition match in the first third of 2026, Lionel Messi, an eight-time Ballond’Or winner, did join the national football team of Argentina.

In October of this year, the group will also host an exhibition meet in India.

The Argentine Football Association ( AFA ) and HSBC have a new one-year partnership going, the bank announced on&nbsp, Wednesday ( Mar 26 ).

This partnership is the first time a bank organization has collaborated with the Brazilian national football team in Singapore and India, bringing together the fields of sport and bank. Through this partnership, HSBC will continue to be a brand- and activation partner between the two nations, according to the lender.

Customers and partners at HSBC will have access to unique benefits, including tickets to Argentina’s games, curated fan activities, and meet-and-greet opportunities with the sports champions.

” We are really happy to include HSBC, Asia’s leading banking institution, as the new partner of the Argentine Football Association in India and Singapore,” said AFA leader Claudio Fabian Tapia.

Messi will also be traveling to Singapore with the regional team for the first time.

He was promoted to one of the match’s star attractions in 2017, and he was scheduled to play in a polite that year.

However, shortly after arriving in Singapore, he abruptly left the country to get ready for his bride.

The match producer Unicess Sports Group declared next that they would not offer any payments or settlement.

When Messi traveled to Hong Kong last year with his team, Inter Miami, he did not participate in a polite game there.

Fans paid up to nearly HK$ 5, 000 ( US$ 640 ) per ticket. Some people demanded a payment.

Eventually, the football player cited swelling in his flexor strength as the cause of his passive-observation behavior.

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Football: Singapore out of ASEAN Championship after 1-3 loss to Vietnam in second leg of semis

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PHU THO: Singapore’s slim hopes of making the ASEAN Championship final were dashed on&nbsp, Sunday ( Dec 29 ) after a 1-3 loss to Vietnam at the Viet Tri stadium in Phu Tho.

This meant that following a 0-2 decline in Singapore last Thursday, the Lions were eliminated 1-5 on overall.

Tsutomu Ogura’s crew had competed with local heavyweights Vietnam for significant portions of the opening matchup, and they continued in the same spirit, never showing any signs of being overawed in Vietnam.

A long put from Lionel Tan early in the game caused problems in the field, and Faris Ramli was finally able to head home. The Lions had the game in the back of the internet.

But events were short-lived after a lengthy Video Assistant Referee (VAR ) check&nbsp, deemed&nbsp, he was wrong following the initial header by Shawal Anuar.

” The umpire is the decision-maker. We didn’t talk about:’ when (or ) if.’ This is football”, said Ogura, when asked if that determination had changed how things unfolded. &nbsp,

In a controversial turn of events, VAR determined that Tan had pulled Argentine Nguyen Xuan Son from the penalty box just before half-time.

After a long VAR check, Tan was first red carded, but that was later changed to a discolored. &nbsp, Nguyen Xuan Son kept his composure to put his staff 1-0 off in the 46th moment.

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Difficult but not impossible: Lions keep faith as they face Vietnam in second leg of ASEAN Championship semis

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Three days later, Vietnam won thanks to a contentious charges from Nguyen Tien Linh in the 101st second and a hit from naturalized Brazilian Rafaelson, then known as Nguyen Xuan Son.

The later sentence was awarded after the defense’s Shakir Hamzah handled the penalty box, but it appeared as though Nguyen Xuan Son had pushed Shakir.

” The referee’s choices were not in our power. Then that game is over, we look forward to the’ next quarter’ of the game”, said playmaker Hami Syahin.

It’s difficult to lose a functionality that we think we did well in, but we know we have a job to do there and the kids think we can do it.

Hassan Sunny, a former Lions keeper, told CNA that Singapore had performed well the majority of the way through the suit.

After the first goal, the sucker punch came straight toward the end of the game, which caused some of us to become a little demoralized, said Hassan, who made the announcement to leave international soccer earlier this year. &nbsp,

BEING MENTALLY STRONG

The Tigers need to be mentally strong because the group is behind their opponents and the first foot result against them, said captain Hariss Harun.

And the group’s shows throughout the game have shown how to combine it with the best, Hami said.

” We know that we may execute, we know that we can upset groups. It’s a matter of taking our prospects in this kind of opposition”, he explained.

Echoing similar views, experienced steward Hassan pointed out that the semi-final is far from over.

” It’s not over yet. There are still 90 more days to go. I’m sure the boys may spin back”, he said.

” The idea they had is not for 90 minutes. Football is a game of surprise ( s ), and we’ll hope to see some surprises in the next one, according to the belief they had for 180 minutes.

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Big test for Singapore against Vietnam in ASEAN Championship semis, but Jalan Besar Stadium could be a boost

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The Lions have played some great football throughout the tournament, especially in the first half against Thailand.

Nevertheless, the Lions may improve in terms of keeping hands, said Mr Shasi.

It was challenging for us to try to escape that when Malaysia started to push higher up, he said.

Vietnam did try to push higher up the pitch, and Singapore must do better in that regard. “

He emphasized that Vietnam needs to be patient with the Lions. When they get prospects, they have got to report, he added.

Singapore has shown the ability to reach opponents on the counterattack, with Shawal, the competition top scorer, proving deadly in front of goal.

If you take your prospects on the counter-attack, as Singapore have shown that they can, that could have a negative impact on Vietnam, according to Mr. Rai.

It’s likely to be a case of trying to defuse Vietnam by using set-piece conditions and quick cuts to advance. “

SON ON SONG

Kim Sang-sik’s men started the tournament with wins over Laos ( 4-1 ) and Indonesia (1-0 ). However, a 1-1 pull with the Philippines and an equalizer at the dying gave the game pause.

The second-highest ranked East Asian team in the Gaming world rankings, however, defeated Myanmar 5-0 in their last team game. Singapore is 160th out of 114th in the world, while Vietnam is ranked 114th.

” I don’t believe they are playing at their best but they’ve got people who are leading course,” said Mr Shasi.

” They are a very, very powerful area… They are unquestionably the favorites to win this (tie and the game ).

” The fact that they are not playing to their best won’t bother them because it’s tournament football, it’s just about winning ( and ) getting to the next stage. “

Describing Vietnam as a team with” good balance”, Mr Rai pointed out that they have brought their” A team” to the tournament.

And if they didn’t already have enough weapons, including veteran striker Nguyen Tien Linh and sun midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai, Vietnam has another tool: Brazilian striker Nguyen Xuan Son, who was born in Brazil and was previously known as Rafaelson.

” It’s a great improvement to the club,” said Mr Rai. It compliments a team that is actually quite powerful, they say. “

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Football: Singapore hold Malaysia to draw, progress to ASEAN Championship semis

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A STALEMATE TO ATTACH IT

The Lions knew that advancing may require either a gain or a pick.

Prior to the fit, Singapore led Group A with six positions, while the Thais were at the top with nine. Malaysia and Cambodia each won four factors.

The tournament style requires that teams ‘ points are first determined by their head-to-head document, followed by general purpose difference, respectively. &nbsp,

The Lions did not previously hold this position.

At the last model of the game, they travelled up to Kuala Lumpur needing a pick to advance. The Lions had seven positions, while Malaysia had six.

But, Singapore may succumb in stunning style, losing 4-1 as the Harimau Malaya moved on.

On Friday, it was Malaysia which looked the more likely of the two groups, buoyed by their vocal supporters.

On the other hand, the Lions appeared much more anxious and were unable to hang onto their position for extended periods of time. &nbsp,

A fast Malaysia counter-attack served as a sign of purpose as a Stuart Wilkin shot flashed across Izwan Mahbud’s purpose in the 28th moment as Singapore struggled to find their foundation.

Four days before halftime, Malaysia was within feet of breaking the impasse, but Daniel Ting’s failed to convert from the far post with Izwan beaten. &nbsp,

At half-time, Tsutomu Ogura threw on Shawal Anuar, the tournament’s leading scorer, but Malaysia would take the lead with an Endrick freekick that ripped the top of the Singapore net. &nbsp,

And he might launch a cannon into the area netting from a distance a moment later.

Amirul Adli’s folder was the only thing that Amirul Adli could do to turn Singapore’s first clear-cut chance into the net.

The Lions ‘ resolve would be tested by a number of subsequent sides, but the bar would finally step in.

Amirul Adli’s long-range energy forced Malaysia’s Haziq Nadzli to come to a magnificent stop before the home team hit the crossbar once more after a corner.

The Lions, however, remained enthralled by their traveling dependent and will now have a chance to roar once more.

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