Over 10 hours before ticket sales began at Jalan Besar Stadium on December 22, thousands of fans formed long lines to secure tickets for the much-anticipated first-leg semi-final between Singapore and Vietnam in the ASEAN Cup 2024. The Straits Times reported this remarkable turnout, reminiscent of Singapore’s football heydays in the 1970s to 1990s, and early 2000s to 2010s.
By 6:20 PM, all 5,375 tickets had been sold, with scalpers quickly listing them online for resale. Singapore’s group-stage matches were previously held at the National Stadium, which boasts a capacity of 55,000. The Lions defeated Cambodia 2-1 before 12,391 fans on December 11 and lost to Thailand 4-2 in front of 22,611 fans on December 17.
However, due to last-minute scheduling conflicts involving pre-booked concerts, Singapore’s semi-final home leg will be played at the smaller Jalan Besar Stadium, which accommodates just 6,000 spectators. The return leg is set to take place at Vietnam’s Viet Tri Stadium, located 80 kilometers from Hanoi, on December 29.
To ensure tickets for the home section went exclusively to Singaporean fans, sales were conducted only at Jalan Besar, requiring buyers to present identification. Fans received a pleasant surprise when Lions captain Hariss Harun appeared on his rest day to distribute four first-tier tickets each to the first 10 people in line, purchasing the tickets himself.
“We are nothing without the fans,” Hariss said, expressing his gratitude to those queuing in the heat. “Let’s make Jalan Besar Stadium roar against Vietnam.”
Visiting fans can purchase tickets for SGD 38 in a designated away section with a capacity of 250 seats. These tickets will only be available on match day starting at 3:00 PM. The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) cautioned that organizers reserve the right to deny entry to visiting fans attempting to sit in home areas.
High demand has led to rampant scalping, with some home section tickets being resold online for up to four times their original price. FAS issued a warning about the risks of purchasing resale tickets, stating that such tickets could be invalid or counterfeit.
“Fans buying resold tickets may be denied entry,” an FAS spokesperson emphasized. “We also strongly advise visiting fans against purchasing resale tickets for home sections, as they risk being refused entry or removed from the venue.”
The highly anticipated match is set for December 26, with fans and players alike eager to create a charged atmosphere at Jalan Besar Stadium.
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