SINGAPORE – Just as the stakes are high on the pitch for the Asian Cup qualifier between Hong Kong and Singapore on Nov 18, the monetary rewards off the field are considerable too, with around a million dollars up for grabs for each side.

The Straits Times understands that the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has two sets of bonuses in place for the Lions.

The first is their regular bonus for winning matches, which promises $6,000 for each player who takes to the field, regardless of the number of minutes, and less than half for the others in the squad.

There is a bigger prize should Singapore secure a maiden qualification for the Asian Cup – they did play in the continental showpiece as hosts in 1984 – as each player could receive up to $40,000 for the feat.

To earn that reward, they must either beat Hong Kong at Kai Tak Stadium on Nov 18 or leapfrog them to first place in Group C on the last day of qualification on March 31, 2026.

Again, there is a varying scale for the players as well as for the staff, depending on their degree of involvement throughout the campaign, which takes the kitty to around $1 million.

Teams who qualify for the continental showpiece in Saudi Arabia in 2027 are also set to receive a bounty. At the last Asian Cup in 2023, teams earned US$200,000 (S$260,000) for participating, with champions Qatar receiving US$5 million.

FAS deputy president Desmond Ong said: “One of the things when we first took office in late April this year was to prioritise the national team and the incentives that are available for the boys.

“We have match bonuses and qualification bonuses, so the boys know exactly what’s in store for them, incentive-wise. It’s not just the players, the coaches and the admin team also know fairly early on that there’s a qualification bonus on the line as well.”

While Singapore skipper Hariss Harun appreciates the healthy bonuses on offer, he insists the team are fighting for a bigger cause.