Tech giant Sea to donate S$50m to boost football development in Singapore

Sea CEO and chairman Forrest Li, who is also FAS president, said: “We believe football can play a powerful role in bringing communities together, building character, and opening up opportunities for young people.

“Football has a unique ability to forge connections and inspire pride and joy through a shared sense of purpose.

“With Sea’s S$50 million donation, we hope to support the long-term development of football in Singapore and give back to the community that has played such an important role in Sea’s journey.”

Sea, the parent company behind gaming platform Garena, has invested in Singapore’s football ecosystem for over a decade.

In 2016, Garena sponsored the Young Lions and in 2020, Sea acquired Home United and changed its name to Lion City Sailors.  

Two years later, the Sailors opened Singapore’s first integrated training football facility at Mattar Road, with the state-of-the-art training centre costing S$10 million.

The Singapore Premier League outfit, in a historic run, made it to the final of last year’s AFC Champions League Two, before losing 2-1 to the United Arab Emirates’ Sharjah.

In November last year, Li also announced a S$2 million payout for the Lions after the national team qualified for the 2027 Asian Cup on merit for the first time.