“Having four of our clubs play in Asian and ASEAN-level competitions signifies the growing competitiveness of professional football in the Philippines. This is in line with our direction to be an emerging force in Southeast Asia.” – Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President John Anthony Gutierrez
Four Filipino professional clubs are set to compete in international club tournaments by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) for the 2025-26 season.
Cebu beats Kasuka, debuts at Shopee Cup
2025 Philippines Football League (PFL) Finals Series champion Cebu FC kicked off their ASEAN Club Championship – Shopee Cup campaign with a qualifying-round victory over Brunei’s Kasuka FC. After a narrow 2-1 defeat in the first leg in Brunei, the Visayas-based club secured their spot in the group stage by winning the second leg at home, 3-0, for a 4-2 aggregate victory.
In their first Group A match at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, Cebu FC fell 3-1 to Singapore’s Tampines Rovers. After a quick 2-0 start by the Rovers in the first 20 minutes, seven-year PFL veteran Abou Sy cut the deficit in the 22nd minute with a header off a corner kick. Despite having most of the game to catch up, Cebu couldn’t find an equalizer, and a late goal by Tampines’ Trent Buhagiar sealed the three points for the visitors.
Cebu FC will look to bounce back in their next match against last season’s runner-up, Cong An Hanoi, on September 24 in Hanoi.
Kaya, Digger, Stallion Women in ACL
Meanwhile, three pro clubs will represent the Philippines in the different tournaments of the AFC Champions League (ACL).
Competing in the ACL second tier, or ACL 2, for a second straight year is reigning three-time PFL champion Kaya F. C.
The Iloilo-based squad was drawn last Friday to Group H, alongside Tampines Rovers of Singapore, BG Pathum United of Thailand, and Pohang Steelers of Japan.
Kaya will begin its campaign against the Rovers on September 18 at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.
Current PFL runner-up Manila Digger has also impressed in its ACL 2 debut, with Modou Joof scoring a second half equalizer against Indonesia Super League Champion Persib in the qualifying playoffs game last August 13.
Digger eventually lost, 1-2, but will debut at the third-tier AFC Challenge League, with the group stage draw scheduled on August 28.
By winning the 2024 PFF Women’s Cup, Stallion Laguna Women will compete in Group A of the 2025-26 AFC Women’s Champions league with in Yangon, Myanmar, opening the season Khovd Western of Mongolia on August 25.
Stallion will then face Strykers F. C. of Guam on August 28 and ISPE of Myanmar on August 31.
