SINGAPORE, 2025, JANUARY 03 – The 25th edition of the Singapore Cup returns to domestic football in 2025 with the addition of former cup winner, Thai side BG Pathum United FC, that has been invited to play in Singapore’s premier Cup competition for the third time in its history.
The Rabbits participated in the tournament in 2009 and 2010, and Bangkok Glass FC as they were known then, reached the final in both years. In 2009, The Rabbits were beaten 1-0 by Geylang United FC – now known as Geylang International FC – in the final.
The Thai side made history the following year, beating Tampines Rovers FC – now known as BG Tampines Rovers FC – 1-0 to become the first foreign side to lift the prestigious trophy.
“Our fans have good memories of the Singapore Cup, and we are honoured to be invited to compete in Singapore, and we are very much looking forward to the Singapore Cup in 2025,” said BG Sports Company Limited International Project Director, Philip Tan.
“We have a strong Singapore connection in our boardroom: our Director of football Surachai Jaturapattarapong played in Singapore for several years, and Singapore football is well familiar with our Head of Youth, Kadir Yahaya.
“We have Ikhsan Fandi and his brother Ilhan Fandi in our first team, and I’m certain Singapore fans will be just as excited as ours to see BG return to compete in the Singapore Cup.”
The draw for the Singapore Cup will take place on Monday, 6 January 2025, with the ten participating teams being split into two groups of five. The top two teams from each group will advance to a two- legged semi-final stage. The competition will kick off on 1 February 2025, with the final scheduled for 31 May 2025, marking the last match of the 2024/25 domestic football season.
The Singapore Cup did not take place in the wake of the COVID pandemic in 2020 and 2021, but the tourney has thrown up exciting encounters since its return, with two first-time winners emerging in each of the past two editions.
Hougang United FC beat BG Tampines 3-2 in 2022 to win the club’s first ever trophy. The Cheetahs returned to the final the following year, but failed to defend their title, falling 3-1 to the Lion City Sailors FC. It was the Sailors’ maiden Singapore Cup win since the club’s 2020 inception.
“The Singapore Cup is a tourney steeped in history, and we are delighted to welcome a former champion back to the fold in what is already poised to be a competitive battle for honours,” said Football Association of Singapore (FAS) General Secretary, Chew Chun-Liang.
“The fact that BG Pathum has existing connections to Singapore football will only add a spicy layer to the latest chapter in the history of a competition I’m confident will pique the interest of football fans in the region.”
