Hundreds of Singaporean football fans have flown into Hong Kong for what some call the city state’s biggest football match when the Lions take on the hosts on Tuesday for a place at the 2027 Asian Cup.

“Singapore has not qualified for the Asian Cup since 1984, when we hosted the games,” said Chue Guo-xian, who works in the sports industry. “So this is probably the biggest match in our national team’s history.”

Chue, who is in his late thirties, said he would be gearing up for Tuesday’s qualifier, carrying a large national flag and wearing the jersey of the national team, also known as the Lions.

He and his wife plan to stay in the city until Thursday before heading to Shenzhen for three more days.

They are among about 2,000 Singaporean fans expected to turn up at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium on Tuesday night to witness history, including those working or living in Hong Kong.

JJ Lin, a finance worker in his late thirties from Singapore who has lived in Hong Kong for more than seven years, said he would congratulate whichever team won, but his heart remained with his home side.