Singapore Lions Gavin Lee friendlies against Paraguay and Brazil, Digi Mart USA News (Singapore): Lions head coach Gavin Lee was midway through his first year at Pasir Ris Secondary School when Carlo Ancelotti lifted his first UEFA Champions League title as a coach in 2003. Next week, the two will meet on the sidelines at the National Stadium when Singapore host Brazil in an international friendly on Nov 17, part of the Mizuho Blue Challenge – The Kallang Football Series Singapore.
The rare chance to face one of world football’s most successful coaches is not lost on Lee, 36, though he admitted he had not spent much time thinking about the encounter. “When you get to go up against someone you see on TV, it can get quite surreal,” he said.
“But me and the boys are so zoomed into what we do and what’s within our control.”
Lee said the team is preparing for Paraguay and Brazil just as it does for any other side. “We don’t take things for granted, and we’re just trying to find ways to hurt them and try to prevent them from hurting us too much,” he said.
“But definitely, I think I’ll probably promise myself to take a moment to appreciate that situation before kick-off.”
Ancelotti, 67, who was appointed Brazil coach in May 2025, has won four further European Cups since that first Champions League title with AC Milan, as well as domestic league titles in France, England, Spain and Germany. In Singapore this week, he will lead the world No. 6 Selecao against 17th-ranked Japan in a rematch of their World Cup last-32 clash on Nov 14, before facing Singapore three days later.
Singapore will open the quadrangular series against world No. 33 Paraguay on Nov 13 before playing Brazil. Japan and Paraguay meet to close the series on Nov 17. The world No. 149 Lions will face Paraguay under Argentine coach Gustavo Alfaro, 64, who previously managed Boca Juniors and led Paraguay at the recent World Cup, where they eliminated Germany to reach the round of 16.
Lee said the South American opposition is exactly what the team needs as it prepares for a historic Asian Cup campaign in 2027. The Lions qualified on merit for the first time and were drawn in Group D with Australia, Iraq and Tajikistan. The tournament, originally scheduled for January, has been postponed to December 2027 owing to ongoing security concerns in Saudi Arabia.
Calling the games a “very important step”, Lee said: “It’s not just to check a box of playing a strong team, right?”
The rescheduling has also meant adjustments for Lee himself. He took over the team on an interim basis from Japanese coach Tsutomu Ogura in June 2025 and was appointed on a permanent basis until mid-2027 after leading Singapore to a 2-1 win in Hong Kong that sealed Asian Cup qualification.
The Straits Times understands the Football Association of Singapore has moved to extend his contract. Lee said: “We had a discussion (and) I think an official announcement will be made in due time.”
The postponement has also given players in Lee’s 24-man squad a chance to press their case for the trip to Saudi Arabia. Geylang International captain and defender Joshua Pereira, 29, whose last Singapore appearance came in March 2023, has been recalled after Geylang became surprise leaders of the Singapore Premier League after six games.
Creative Young Lions midfielder Joel Chew, 26, who made only substitute appearances during the Lions’ underwhelming FIFA ASEAN Cup campaign in September, said: “I’m just going to do what I can and do my best.”
