Hariss Harun became Singapore’s most-capped footballer on May 31 when he played his 148th international match in a friendly against Mongolia at Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore [1, 2, 3]. The 6,000-seat Jalan Besar Stadium hosted a few thousand fans, a smaller crowd than the 55,000-capacity National Stadium where bigger matches are usually held [1, 2, 3].
Harun, who debuted for Singapore at age 16 years and 217 days under coach Radojko Avramovic in 2007, surpassed Daniel Bennett’s long-standing cap record with this match [1, 2, 3]. Prior to his senior debut, he played for Singapore’s Under-23 team at the 2006 Asian Cup when he was just 16 years old [1, 2, 3]. At age 20 in 2011, he captained Singapore in an unofficial friendly, leading the team to a win over the Maldives [1, 2, 3].
Starting football at age seven, Harun rose through the ranks at St Michael’s School, St Gabriel’s Secondary, Home United’s centre of excellence, and the National Football Academy [1, 2, 3]. He reflected on the sacrifices his family made, saying, "I saw them make ends meet through working double jobs. At one point, my mother sold curry puffs from home for extra income, and my brother and I helped deliver them to a shop. These experiences humbled me and taught me values" [1]. Harun said, "As a boy, I just wanted to represent the country, so this milestone is a huge honour for me, and a proud moment for my family, who have made many sacrifices for me to be here" [1].
Despite celebrating his personal achievement, Harun emphasized the team's broader goals. "But it shouldn’t take the spotlight away from the team’s Asian Cup qualification, which is a bigger achievement for the country because of how it has brought Singaporeans together," he said [1]. He added, "And every game we play now will be in preparation to give a good account of ourselves at the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia next year" [1].
Singapore is set to participate in the 2025 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, which remains a key focus for Harun and the national team [1, 2, 3].
