October 23rd, 2026 | Official
Dear SingaCup Family,
We sincerely appreciate your patience, understanding and continued support during this uncertain period. We recognise the concerns facing teams, players, parents and officials preparing to travel to Singapore for SingaCup 2026.
We would like to share our recent air quality observations, the tournament’s current status and our contingency arrangements. While we remain hopeful that conditions will improve, everyone’s safety and well-being remain our highest priority.
1. Recent Air Quality Conditions in Singapore
Our team has recorded the following 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings over the past eight days:
| Date | Recorded PSI |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, 14 October | 203 |
| Thursday, 15 October | 212 |
| Friday, 16 October | 229 |
| Saturday, 17 October | 212 |
| Sunday, 18 October | 192 |
| Monday, 19 October | 114 |
| Tuesday, 20 October | 112 |
| Wednesday, 21 October | 102 |
These readings indicate a welcomed improvement from the higher levels recorded earlier. However, the improvement is only due to the favorable wind patterns in recent days where the haze were diverted away from Singapore towards Sumatra in the South-East region of Riau Islands. Risk of the haze returning remains high and we will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Alongside the 24-hour PSI and official forecasts, we will monitor NEA’s 1-hour PM2.5 readings, particularly for the region covering the tournament venue. These readings provide a more current indication of fine particulate levels and help us assess sudden changes in air quality.
2. Prevailing Conditions in Sumatra and Kalimantan
As of 22 October 2026, regional updates indicate continuing hotspots and smoke haze in parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan. Rainfall may improve conditions in some areas, but haze risks remain in fire-prone regions experiencing persistent dry weather.
Singapore’s air quality may change depending on regional fire activity, rainfall and wind direction. Improvements locally do not necessarily mean that the underlying haze risk has passed.
Please refer to the attached regional hotspot update for further information. Teams are also encouraged to consult the latest official updates at NEA’s haze website.
3. Current Tournament Status and Team Participation
At this stage, SingaCup 2026 remains scheduled to proceed, subject to prevailing haze and weather conditions, venue arrangements and relevant official advisories.
We encourage all teams to make informed decisions regarding travel and participation, considering players’ ages and health conditions, parental concerns, insurance coverage and existing travel commitments. Teams should consult relevant official health advisories and seek medical advice where appropriate.
Please notify the SingaCup Organising Committee of your decision to proceed or withdraw by Sunday, 25 October 2026, at 2359hrs (Singapore time, GMT+8). This will allow us to finalise tournament groupings, fixtures and operational arrangements.
Teams choosing to travel and participate should understand that disruption remains possible, including changes to tournament groupings, fixtures and match formats, or the suspension, postponement or cancellation of play.
A team’s willingness to participate does not override SingaCup’s safety decisions. No team may play while matches are suspended on safety grounds.
We understand that some teams have made the difficult decision to withdraw. We respect these decisions and appreciate the careful consideration behind them.
Tournament Fee Credit Notes were sent to the affected teams this morning. Subject to the terms stated in the credit notes, these may be used for SingaCup 2027 or the following affiliated tournaments:
- Thailand: Copa Naka 2027
- Philippines: Copa Haribon 2027
- Sri Lanka: Copa Simha 2027
We hope these options provide flexibility and look forward to welcoming affected teams at a future tournament.
4. SingaCup 2026 Contingency Planning and Safety Measures
For teams choosing to participate despite the potential haze disruptions, we wish to establish a clear mutual understanding: players’ health and safety will always come first. If conditions deteriorate, necessary measures may include shortened playing time, delayed or suspended matches, cancellation of fixtures, or termination of the tournament.
Teams that are unable to accept the possibility of the tournament being disrupted or not completed are strongly encouraged to consider withdrawing under the arrangements outlined in Section 3.
Teams wishing to withdraw must notify the SingaCup Organising Committee by Sunday, 25 October 2026, at 2359hrs (Singapore time, GMT+8).
Teams choosing to proceed should do so with a clear understanding of the potential disruptions, possible non-completion and the tournament fee provisions set out in this advisory.
All fixtures remain subject to prevailing haze and weather conditions, lightning risks, pitch conditions, venue availability and relevant official advisories. There is no guarantee that every fixture, age-group competition or the tournament as a whole can be completed.
Where necessary, SingaCup reserves the right to delay, suspend, shorten, reschedule or cancel individual fixtures, or postpone or terminate an affected age-group competition or the tournament, in the interests of safety.
Air Quality Monitoring and Operational Bands
SingaCup will monitor both the official 24-hour PSI and 1-hour PM2.5 readings for the region covering the tournament venue. Readings will be reviewed approximately one hour before kick-off, with continued monitoring and further assessments throughout each match day.
The following framework uses NEA’s 1-hour PM2.5 band definitions. The tournament actions described are SingaCup’s operational arrangements, subject to applicable official health advisories:
| NEA Band | 1-hour PM2.5 Concentration | SingaCup Operational Response |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1 — Normal | 0–55 µg/m³ | Normal tournament activities may proceed, subject to prevailing conditions and applicable safety requirements. |
| Band 2 — Elevated | 56–150 µg/m³ | Further safety assessment is required. Where play is consistent with applicable health guidance and permitted by the organisers, matches will be shortened to one half, with the duration confirmed before kick-off. |
| Band 3 — High | 151–250 µg/m³ | Official tournament matches will be suspended. |
| Band 4 — Very High | 251 µg/m³ and above | Official tournament matches will remain suspended. |
NEA advises vulnerable persons, including children, to avoid strenuous outdoor activity when 1-hour PM2.5 readings are Elevated. A shortened match does not, by itself, establish that participation is safe or override this advice.
The 1-hour PM2.5 bands will not be assessed in isolation. The organisers may delay or suspend play at lower readings where the 24-hour PSI, official advisories, participants’ health or prevailing conditions warrant it.
Where play is permitted, additional precautions may include water and rest breaks, reduced warm-up periods and close monitoring of players.
Any player who feels unwell must stop playing immediately, inform their team official and receive appropriate assessment or medical attention.
Teams may elect not to participate in a match. Any resulting walkover will be handled under the applicable tournament rules and confirmed by the organisers.
Prolonged Disruption and Force Majeure
If haze-related delays exceed two hours, the Organising Committee may determine that the affected age-group competition cannot reasonably or safely be completed. Where the applicable tournament terms permit, SingaCup may invoke the force majeure provisions and terminate the remaining fixtures for that age group.
If the tournament or an affected age-group competition is terminated due to haze-related force majeure, no tournament fee refunds will be provided, subject to the applicable tournament terms and any requirements of law. The withdrawal and credit arrangements outlined in Section 3 remain subject to their stated terms.
Communication and Competition Outcomes
All changes will be communicated through designated team officials. Match-day updates will include:
- Latest 24-hour PSI
- Latest 1-hour PM2.5 concentration
- Reporting time and monitoring region
- Match status and any revised safety instructions
Competition outcomes, including those arising from shortened matches, walkovers or incomplete fixtures, will be determined in accordance with the applicable tournament rules and terms.
5. Our Commitment to the SingaCup Family
Every decision will take account of prevailing air quality, official health advisories, sporting and operational requirements and, above all, the safety and well-being of our players, families, coaches, officials, volunteers and partners.
We recognise the considerable time, effort and resources every team has invested in preparing for SingaCup 2026. We do not take your trust and support for granted. We remain committed to communicating openly, acting responsibly and treating every team with care and understanding throughout this period.
Please share this advisory with your players, parents and accompanying officials.
Thank you for standing with us, SingaCup Family. We will continue to keep you updated as the situation develops.
Warm regards,
The SingaCup Organising Committee
