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Malaysia (in yellow) beat Singapore 6-0 in the final match of Group A, Division 1 of the FIFA ASEAN Cup at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium, Bandung, Indonesia on Oct. 1, 2026. Photo by MalaysiaNT |
The cinematic conclusion of Group A, Division 1 at the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup unfolded on Thursday night, raining goals and controversy. While Malaysia dominated Singapore with a 6-0 victory, they still missed out on a spot in the final because, in the other match, Indonesia defeated Bangladesh 9-2.
Both Indonesia and Malaysia finished the group stage with seven points and the same +9 goal difference. However, Indonesia claimed the top spot and advanced to the final by scoring more goals throughout the group stage, netting 11 compared to Malaysia’s 9.
The heavy defeat has fueled frustration among Singaporean supporters.
Prior to the match, online forums had been buzzing with a conspiracy theory by Indonesian lawyer Noor Korompot. He suggested a scenario where Singapore might intentionally help Malaysia reach the final, a theory that had caused anxiety among Indonesian fans.
Following the 0-6 thrashing, the anger shifted to the Singaporean fanbase, who watched their team crumble in an unbelievable fashion. The result was particularly shocking given that Singapore had maintained an even record against Malaysia in their last five encounters, securing two wins, two losses and a draw.
Singapore news site The Straits Times described the performance as a “drubbing” at the hands of Malaysia.
On football forums, Singaporean fans couldn not keep their cool. KallangWave, a famous subreddit for Singaporean football discussions, was flooded with hundreds of angry comments.
Users questioned the team’s motivation, with one fan asking if the squad were trying to lose heavily just to help Malaysia knock out Indonesia. Others expressed disbelief that the team seemingly gave up despite still having a chance before kickoff.
“This tournament is ridiculous, but our team are the biggest joke of all,” another fan wrote.
The official Facebook page of the Football Association of Singapore are also flooded with backlash. Nearly 2,000 scathing comments were posted within just two hours of the final whistle.
“What a terrible play. A FIFA-esque comedy that our team walked right into,” a user wrote.
While the conspiracy theories surrounding the match will remain unproven, the reality of the 6-0 defeat stands as a low point for Singaporean fans.
The crushing loss and the fan outrage have left a mark on Singaporean football that supporters are unlikely to forget anytime soon.