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SINGAPORE: The FIFA World Cup may be taking place thousands of kilometres away, but its impact is being felt on football pitches across Singapore.

Youth football academies told CNA that interest in the sport has surged since the tournament began earlier this month, with more children being enrolled in training programmes after watching their heroes compete on the world stage.

Retailers are also benefiting from the football frenzy, reporting strong growth in sales of youth jerseys, football boots and World Cup collectibles.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the biggest in the tournament’s history, with 48 teams playing 104 matches across Canada, Mexico and the United States.

YOUNG FOOTBALLERS INSPIRED BY WORLD CUP STARS

At Foundation Football Club, enrolment for its June holiday camp exceeded 60 participants, more than double the turnout for a similar camp held during the March school holidays.

Founder Leanne Teo said the World Cup has helped put football at the forefront of conversations among young players.  

“They’re discussing what happens during matches, all the highlights. They’re talking about it, they’re mimicking it, they’re copying some of the moves. They are also getting a bit competitive with each other,” she added.

Training sessions also incorporate elements of the tournament.

“We do World Cup-themed matches, and they pick the teams, or they fight over … what team they want to represent this time, depending on the performance of the country.”

Founded earlier this year, the academy hopes to create more development pathways for young footballers, including opportunities for them to progress into higher-level competitions and potentially connect with international scouting programmes.

GROWING INTEREST IN FOOTBALL PATHWAYS

At Get GungHo FC Celtic Soccer Academy, chairman Paul Adamberry said the World Cup is encouraging more young players to take football seriously.

He said that the number of parents signing their children up for free football trials has risen by about 40 to 50 per cent in recent weeks.

More notably, the conversion rate from trial sessions to paid training programmes has increased by about 80 per cent compared with normal levels.

“For children watching their favourite soccer star or national team compete in the World Cup, (it) definitely encourages them to want to play more, participate, get involved in tournaments, train harder,” Mr Adamberry said.

The academy caters to both recreational and competitive players. Mr Adamberry said about 70 per cent train recreationally, while around 30 per cent choose to join its competitive teams, including those that compete in the Singapore Youth League.

He added that major tournaments can play an important role in developing local football talent.

The academy also works to develop local coaches through internships, professional training and exchanges with coaches from Celtic FC’s academy in Scotland.

“Interest from the World Cup is also reflective of pathway development for local soccer enthusiasts in Singapore,” he noted.

“Obviously, being able to watch a world-class tournament, watch world-class teams, world-class players encourages local youth players to want to stretch themselves … and seek pathways to potential amateur or professional careers.”

JERSEYS, BOOTS AND COLLECTIBLES FLYING OFF SHELVES

The football fever is also boosting retail sales.

Weston Corp, a football merchandise retailer, said sales of youth jerseys are about two-and-a-half times last year’s level, while sales of football footwear have risen by about 6 per cent.

Senior brand manager Joe Tan said young fans are eager to support their favourite teams and players.

“Because of the endorsement on pitch and the TV coverage, there’s more interest from the youth in terms of trying to get their favourite players’ jerseys or favourite federation jerseys.”

The company has expanded its World Cup product range significantly this year, carrying more than 600 tournament-related items, about double the number stocked during the last World Cup four years ago.

The expansion from 32 teams in 2022 to 48 this year has also allowed the retailer to bring in merchandise from more participating nations.

Among the most sought-after items are trading cards and stickers.

“We see a rise in terms of interest from not just adults but even kids as well, hoping for their chance to get their favourite players’ stickers and cards,” said Mr Tan.

Demand has been so strong that some products have already sold out, he added.

With several weeks of competition still to come until the final on Jul 20, academies and retailers expect interest to remain strong as more young Singaporeans are inspired to take up the sport.

SANTA CLARA, California, June 25 : Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro said officials should reassess the placement of pitch-side advertising boards at the World Cup after attacker Julio Enciso crashed into one behind the Australia goal during their 0-0 draw on Thursday.

• Enciso came off second best as he fought for the ball with Australia defender Alessandro Circati in the second half at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.

• Enciso got to his feet gingerly after contact with the board but played out the remainder of the game.

• “I think that maybe if there was more space that will be good because of course there’s a lot of intensity when we are playing, and sometimes if a player gets destabilised, he could fall and get injured and these things can happen,” Alfaro told the post-match press conference. “So, maybe we have to think about that and reassess.”

• The result left Paraguay third behind Group D winners the United States and second-placed Australia, both of whom have reached the last 32. Paraguay must wait for other results in the group phase to know whether they will advance as one of the eight best third-placed teams.

• Alfaro said he was very optimistic Paraguay would continue at the tournament and praised his players for how they had reacted after their 4-1 opening defeat by the United States. “Recovering from such a hard result was really hard for us, and in spite of that, our team has been very solid in the past two games.”

INGLEWOOD, California, June 25 : The United States conceded a stoppage-time goal to lose 3-2 to Turkey on Thursday but coach Mauricio Pochettino said there was little reason for concern after his side still finished top of their World Cup group.

The U.S. will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara in the round of 32 on Wednesday, and Pochettino was frustrated that much of the post-match discussion centred on the defeat rather than the co-hosts achieving their main goal of winning Group D.

“At the moment no one congratulated us for finishing first in our group,” Pochettino told reporters. “I congratulate the players, the staff and the fans to finish first in a very difficult group.”

Turkey had already been eliminated before kickoff but the Argentine said the mood after the match was as if his team were the ones going home.

“Our objective was to finish first, and we finished first,” he said. “I’m so positive and I’m happy. Your questions are a little bit weird.”

Pochettino said the defeat had to be viewed in context, with the U.S. already through to the knockout stage and making wholesale changes to their starting line-up after victories over Paraguay and Australia. 

“Whenever a team has already qualified and another team has already been knocked out, so many situations come into play,” he added. 

Pochettino said the performance reinforced his belief in the depth of the squad, with several players making their World Cup debuts.

“We are a much better team now than before,” he said. “We qualified as number one and we went to the next round. I need to remind you that we won the group.”

SANTA CLARA, California, June 25 : Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro said officials should reassess the placement of pitch-side advertising boards at the World Cup after attacker Julio Enciso crashed into one behind the Australia goal during their 0-0 draw on Thursday.

• Enciso came off second best as he fought for the ball with Australia defender Alessandro Circati in the second half at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.

• Enciso got to his feet gingerly after contact with the board but played out the remainder of the game.

• “I think that maybe if there was more space that will be good because of course there’s a lot of intensity when we are playing, and sometimes if a player gets destabilised, he could fall and get injured and these things can happen,” Alfaro told the post-match press conference. “So, maybe we have to think about that and reassess.”

• The result left Paraguay third behind Group D winners the United States and second-placed Australia, both of whom have reached the last 32. Paraguay must wait for other results in the group phase to know whether they will advance as one of the eight best third-placed teams.

• Alfaro said he was very optimistic Paraguay would continue at the tournament and praised his players for how they had reacted after their 4-1 opening defeat by the United States. “Recovering from such a hard result was really hard for us, and in spite of that, our team has been very solid in the past two games.”

SEATTLE: Iran aim to make their nation proud against Egypt with a place in the World Cup knockout stages on the line, coach Amir Ghalenoei said on Thursday (Jun 25), while he refused to be drawn on the Pride celebrations surrounding the game.

Team Melli have fought to secure back-to-back draws against Belgium and New Zealand, giving them an outside chance of topping Group G, despite having been required to enter and leave the United States shortly before and after their matches.

US authorities have eased travel restrictions ahead of the match against Egypt, though Iran’s football federation said on Wednesday that officials had “caused problems” when the side travelled from their Mexican base for Friday’s game.

Ghalenoei told reporters that the restrictions had “physically affected us” in previous games, but that Iran are now “fitter and also we are in a better position”.

He said Iran’s ability to enter the US earlier before matches “was our right, which we should have had in the two previous games”.

IRAN SEEK TO STOP PRIDE DISCUSSION

Thursday’s press conference began with a FIFA official reading a statement from the Football Federation of Iran, telling reporters Ghalenoei would only answer questions about the Egypt game.

But Ghalenoei brought up travel restrictions on Iran without being asked about the issue and the discussion quickly turned to local organisers’ decision to designate the game as Seattle’s “Pride Match”.

Ghalenoei, echoing Egypt coach Hossam Hassan’s comments, said his side were only concerned with the match.

“We are going to be positive,” he said. “We are not going to think about any other issues … we seek to bring joy to our people.”

He added: “Our entire focus is going to be on tomorrow’s game, on succeeding in tomorrow’s game, and anything else that is banned … we don’t want to speak about it.

“We are only going to speak about football, what a beautiful game it is and how enjoyable it’s going to be.”

KANSAS CITY: The Netherlands breezed into the World Cup knockouts as Group F winners with a commanding 3-1 victory over Tunisia on a rain-soaked Thursday (Jun 25), capitalising on another poor display from their hapless opponents to set up a round-of-32 clash with Morocco.

A thunderstorm warning cleared just in time for kickoff but there was no delay to the Dutch on the pitch, who made the fastest start to a World Cup match since 2002 when they seized a 2-0 lead in just over six minutes.

The North Africans’ captain Ellyes Skhiri inadvertently turned a cross into his own net in the third minute, before Brian Brobbey grabbed his third goal of the tournament.

Tunisia briefly threatened a comeback when Hazem Mastouri scored in the 54th minute, but Jan Paul van Hecke quickly restored the Dutch cushion.

Despite dominating for long spells and resting key players in the second half, Koeman rejected any suggestion his side were favourites for the Morocco match in Monterrey on Monday.

“I’m not sure if we’re the favourites,” he told reporters. “It will be a big game. They are a good team with a lot of quality, and they can score easily … It’s clear we will be meeting a strong opponent.”

“We’re the first of the group, and now we’re going towards our real test, and that’s what we’re going to prepare for,” he added.

The Netherlands capitalised on another error-strewn display from Tunisia, whose calamitous tournament came to a fitting end after heavy defeats to Japan and Sweden and a coach change between their first two matches.

Some of the more than 68,000 fans in attendance left the stadium before the final whistle with the result beyond doubt, as heavy rain and the weather alert did little to disrupt the match or dampen their enthusiasm.

DUTCH CONTROL

Tunisia almost struck first in the second minute when Ismael Gharbi missed a clear chance, but the Netherlands moved ahead moments later as Skhiri slashed at Denzel Dumfries’ cross and rifled the ball into his own net.

They doubled their advantage in the seventh minute, when Brobbey finished from close range after Virgil van Dijk headed a free kick back across goal.

The early burst gave way to a slower tempo, with the Dutch rarely troubled even as Tunisia threatened to get back into the contest in the second half, when Mastouri headed in Hannibal Mejbri’s corner to reduce the deficit.

Tunisia’s momentum was quickly curtailed as the Netherlands restored their two-goal advantage eight minutes later when Van Hecke powered home a header from Tijjani Reijnders’ corner, with the ball deflecting off Anis Slimane on its way into the net.

Reijnders later struck the crossbar as the Dutch continued to press but failed to add to their tally.

DISAPPOINTING TOURNAMENT FOR TUNISIA

The scoreline allowed Koeman to take off some of his starters ahead of the round-of-32 clash in Mexico, with Brobbey, Cody Gakpo and Frenkie de Jong all substituted in the second half.

Memphis Depay, the Netherlands’ all-time leading goalscorer, came on in the 77th minute and went close with an acrobatic bicycle kick.

The defeat capped a disappointing tournament for Tunisia, who conceded 12 goals across three matches despite arriving with a reputation for defensive solidity after they cruised through qualifying without conceding a single goal.

Coach Herve Renard was rushed in to replace the sacked Sabri Lamouchi after a 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opener but was unable to change their fortunes. 

INGLEWOOD, California, June 25 : U.S. winger Christian Pulisic starts on the bench for a Group D match in which the U.S. and Turkey make wholesale changes.  

• The Americans make nine changes and Turkey seven.

• The U.S. retain only Ricardo Pepi and Weston McKennie in the starting 11 compared with the match against Australia.

• Matt Turner comes in as U.S. goalkeeper, replacing Matt Freese.

• The U.S. are already through to the last 32 as group winners, while Turkey cannot progress.

Teams:

Turkey: Ugurcan Cakir; Zeki Celik, Eren Elmali, Abdulkerim Bardakci, Ozan Kabak; Arda Guler, Salih Ozcan, Orkun Kokcu, Kenan Yildiz, Baris Alper Yilmaz, Oguz Aydin

United States: Matt Turner; Auston Trusty, Miles Robinson, Mark McKenzie, Joe Scally; Giovanni Reyna, Weston McKennie, Sebastian Berhalter; Ricardo Pepi, Brenden Aaronson; Timothy Weah

DALLAS, June 25 : Japan held on to draw 1-1 with Sweden in their World Cup match on Thursday to finish runners-up in Group F and book a meeting in the knockout stage with five-times champions Brazil after an Anthony Elanga strike cancelled out Daizen Maeda’s opener.

Japan’s Maeda broke the deadlock early in the second half following a cagey opening period when he timed a run perfectly into the box and finished from Ritsu Doan’s pinpoint pass.

Sweden responded minutes later after Elanga carried the ball before unleashing a long-range shot that beat Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. Alexander Isak nearly found the winner for Sweden deep in second-half stoppage time but Suzuki managed to tip his glancing header onto the crossbar.

Japan finished on five points behind group winners the Netherlands on seven points. Japan face Brazil in a round of 32 clash on Monday in Houston while Sweden move on with four points as one of the best third-place teams.

HOUSTON: Cape Verde will give Saudi Arabia the same respect they showed to Spain and Uruguay in their crunch World Cup Group H clash in Houston on Friday (Jun 26), but believe a place in the round of 32 is within their grasp, according to defender Pico Lopes.

Victory will seal a place in the knockout stages on debut for the Cape Verdeans, who were surprise qualifiers for the finals but have earned excellent draws in their first two games.

They have subsequently become a favourite with many fans around the world for their fighting spirit and no shortage of quality, and Lopes said there was a real hunger within the squad to not let their journey end in Houston.

“The support has been amazing from all over the world,” Lopes told reporters on Thursday. “It has been really special. It is hard to believe we are even here, but you qualify for these tournaments on merit.

“You need to work hard and the (Cape Verde) federation has certainly worked so hard to have the best talent available. It wasn’t easy, but we never stopped believing.”

Lopes said the message remained the same for the players – enjoy the moment.

“We got a great point against Spain and there is a self-belief and confidence in this team that we can mix with the best in the world,” he said.

“This match against Saudi Arabia is maybe one that both teams thought they could get something from (coming into the tournament) and would target for three points. Nothing changes, we will try to win and see what comes next.

“There are no bad teams here. We will show (Saudi Arabia) the same respect as we did to Spain and Uruguay.”

Cape Verde coach Bubista said his side will not be overawed by the occasion or feel they do not belong on the global stage.

“We are very happy to be able to participate in the World Cup,” he said. “Football belongs to everyone. It does not belong only to wealthier countries.

“Saudi Arabia are a very organised team. They have great transitions, it is a difficult opponent, but we will rely on our organisation. We have confidence in our plan.”

SANTA CLARA, California, June 25 : Australia recalled Nestory Irankunda in one of six changes for Thursday’s World Cup Group D match against Paraguay, who are without the suspended Miguel Almiron.      

• Both teams are on equal points and competing for second spot in the group, with the United States already through to the next round as winners and Turkey eliminated.

• Socceroos coach Tony Tony Popovic shook up his front line, dropping Mohamed Toure and Nishan Velupillay and bringing in Irankunda and Cristian Volpato.

• Strasbourg’s Julio Enciso is in the Paraguay attack for his third game of the tournament.

• Australia are missing both Jacob Italiano and Mathew Leckie to injuries.

• Forward Gabriel Avalos comes into the Paraguay side in place of Isidro Pitta, among three changes by coach Gustavo Alfaro.

Lineups: 

Australia: Patrick Beach, Alessandro Circati, Jordan Bos, Connor Metcalfe, Aiden O’Neill, Aziz Behich, Nestory Irankunda, Harry Souttar, Cristian Volpato, Jackson Irvine, Lucas Herrington. 

Paraguay: Orlando Gill, Gustavo Velazquez, Omar Alderete, Juan Jose Caceres, Diego Gomez, Andres Cubas, Gustavo Gomez, Julio Enciso, Gabriel Avalos, Matias Galarza, Alexandro Maidana.