THE KALLANG GROUP AND DENTSU SPORTS INTERNATIONAL TO HOST MIZUHO BLUE CHALLENGE - THE KALLANG FOOTBALL SERIES SINGAPORE
Published On 3 Sep 2026
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Football fever comes to The Kallang this November as the national teams of Brazil, Japan, Paraguay and Singapore face off in an international competition
Singapore, 3 September 2026 – The Kallang Group and Dentsu Sports International (DSI) today announced the inaugural Mizuho Blue Challenge – The Kallang Football Series Singapore, the first proprietary sports property in The Kallang Group’s growing portfolio, to be held this November at the National Stadium at The Kallang. The four-nation international football showcase will feature Brazil, Japan and Paraguay alongside host nation Singapore.
Four matches will be played across three match days from 13 to 17 November, during the official FIFA international match window. The Mizuho Blue Challenge – The Kallang Football Series Singapore opens on 13 November with Singapore facing Paraguay, followed by Japan against Brazil on 14 November – a rematch of their most recent FIFA World Cup 2026 fixture. Fans can also look forward to a doubleheader on 17 November, with Singapore taking on Brazil before Japan meets Paraguay.
All three visiting nations have shown recent momentum in the FIFA world rankings (as of 2 September): Brazil (5th) and Japan (17th) each moved up one place, while Paraguay (34th) rose seven spots following its win over Germany in the Round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup 2026. For Singapore, the tournament forms part of the Lion’s preparations for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 for which they qualified on merit for the first time.
To encourage more people to support the Lions on home ground, ticket prices for the opening match between Singapore and Paraguay start from $28. For the doubleheader on 17 November, fans will have the chance to watch both matches on a single ticket.
Mizuho Blue Challenge – The Kallang Football Series Singapore is the first proprietary sports property in The Kallang Group’s growing portfolio, created to deliver flagship experiences that engage audiences and capture emerging market opportunities. The event also marks the first partnership between The Kallang Group and DSI, underscoring The Kallang Group’s ambition to evolve beyond a traditional venue operator into a creator of world-class sports, entertainment and lifestyle experiences.
Supported by Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. as title sponsor, the football showcase is also part of the Singapore-Japan 60th Anniversary (SJ60) celebrations to commemorate six decades of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Japan.
"The Mizuho Blue Challenge – The Kallang Football Series Singapore represents a significant milestone in The Kallang Group’s growth as we evolve from operating venues to creating world-class event properties that Singapore can proudly call its own,” said Daryl Yeo, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Experience Officer, The Kallang Group. "As we expand our portfolio of signature events, this inaugural tournament reflects our commitment to bringing premier sporting action to Singapore and creating more opportunities for fans and communities to come together. We look forward to welcoming supporters to The Kallang to experience football at its very best and enjoy memorable moments that last long after the final whistle."
“Singapore offers the ideal setting for international sport, and in The Kallang, we have a partner that shares our ambition to create premier football events in the region,” said Tomonori Ito, Managing Director, Dentsu Sports Asia Pte. Ltd. “As part of the SJ60 celebrations, we are delighted to play our part in bringing people together through the shared passion for football. We believe Mizuho Blue Challenge – The Kallang Football Series Singapore has all the ingredients to become a celebrated fixture in the Asian football calendar.”
Tickets for the matches will go on sale on Friday 4 September, from 12pm (SGT). For more details, please visit The Kallang website here. Shopee, as an Official Partner of the tournament, is offering exclusive ticket access for ShopeeVIP users. For more information, please visit link here.
Event Summary
- Event: Mizuho Blue Challenge – The Kallang Football Series Singapore
- Location: National Stadium at The Kallang, Singapore
- Dates: 13 to 17 November 2026
- Teams: Singapore, Japan, Brazil, Paraguay
- Match fixtures:
- 13 November 2026: Singapore vs Paraguay
- 14 November 2026: Japan vs Brazil
- 17 November 2026: Singapore vs Brazil followed by Japan vs Paraguay
- Organisers: The Kallang Group and Dentsu Sports International
- Ticket Sales: on Friday 4 September, from 12pm (SGT)
- Ticketing website: The Kallang website here
Annex A – Quotes from head coaches of the participating teams
Singapore – Gavin Lee
“We’re excited for any opportunity to play against strong opposition. These kinds of matches are invaluable to us because they test us and show us where we are and, more importantly, where we still need to improve,” said Gavin Lee, Head Coach of the Singapore Men’s National Team. “We’ve made good progress, but there’s still a lot of work ahead of us, and every game we play now is about helping us prepare for the Asian Cup.”
Japan – Hajime Moriyasu
“Following our matches in Japan in September and October, we are delighted to have the opportunity to face two strong South American sides in November.
Needless to say, Paraguay and Brazil both finished higher than Japan at the most recent FIFA World Cup. We want to make the most of this valuable opportunity, using every international window to continue moving forward from where we are today and to deliver our best possible performance at the AFC Asian Cup next January.
I saw many people across Asia, including in Singapore, support the Japan national team during the World Cup. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to compete in a tournament in a country where football is so deeply loved and embraced. I am very much looking forward to meeting our fans in Singapore and sharing this special occasion with them in a country with such a deep passion for football.
I would also like to express our sincere appreciation to everyone at Mizuho Financial Group for their generous support and sponsorship.”
Brazil – Carlo Ancelotti
“The friendlies in Singapore represent another important step in building the Brazilian National Team for the coming years. Facing Japan and Singapore will allow us to observe the team’s behaviour in different contexts, which is essential at this early stage of the cycle. We are working to strengthen our identity and expand our options. The goal is to evolve with balance, preparing the group for the challenges that lie ahead.”