Singapore began their campaign in the ASEAN Cup 2026 with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Cambodia. The match, held at Morodok Techo Stadium, saw Singapore take an early lead, only to be challenged by a resilient Cambodian side that managed to equalize before succumbing to a late goal.

Shawal Anuar opened the scoring for Singapore in the 22nd minute, capitalizing on a defensive error. Cambodia, however, fought back and found their equalizer in the second half through Sovann Ouk's powerful strike in the 55th minute, which ignited the hopes of the home crowd.

The match took a dramatic turn in injury time when Ilhan Fandi, the son of Singapore football legend Fandi Ahmad, scored a stunning volley in the 90th minute plus 10 seconds. This goal not only marked his sixth for the national team but also showcased his potential as a rising star in Singaporean football.

Despite Cambodia's strong performance, which included a solid possession game and several attempts on goal, they were unable to hold off the determined Singaporean side. The match statistics showed Singapore with 13 shots, three of which were on target, compared to Cambodia's eight shots with two on target.

Following this victory, Singapore has now won five consecutive opening matches in the ASEAN tournament and maintained a perfect record against Cambodia, having won all four previous encounters. Looking ahead, Singapore will face Timor Leste in their next match, while Cambodia will travel to Indonesia for a challenging fixture.

The opening ceremony of the tournament featured a performance by 14-year-old Princess Norodom Jenna of Cambodia, setting an exciting tone for the upcoming matches in the ASEAN Cup 2026.