The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has called up 28 players that will form the pool for the FIFA World Cup 2026/AFC Asian Cup 2027 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 fixtures against Iraq.
Philippines head coach Tom Saintfiet banks on the lineup to make an impression against Iraq on 21 March in Basra, Iraq before coming back to the Philippines for the return leg on 26 March at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
Goalkeeper and team captain Neil Etheridge leads the roster. Also included in the lineup are veterans Patrick Reichelt, Daisuke Sato, and Kevin Ingreso. Kaya FC-Iloilo players Jarvey Gayoso and Marco Casambre, Dynamic Herb Cebu FC players Jeremiah Borlongan and Chima Uzoka, as well as Far Eastern University standout Theo Libarnes are among the players that impressed Saintfiet in the recent training camp.
“We have a well balanced group,” said Saintfiet. “We have a good team to face Iraq, but we need to play professional and try to steal some points. We have a balanced team to face a strong opponent. We have both experienced and young in the mix. It’s important we look at players who can do the job and who we think who could be ready for this task in every position.”
Players:
1. Patrick Deyto – Goalkeeper – Chonburi FC (Thailand)
2. Neil Etheridge – Goalkeeper – Birmingham City FC (England)
3. Kevin Ray Hansen – Goalkeeper – Persib Bandung (Indonesia)
4. Amani Aguinaldo – Defender – Trat FC (Thailand)
5. Pocholo Bugas – Defender – Angkor Tiger (Cambodia)
6. Marco Casambre – Defender – Kaya FC-Iloilo
7. Jesse Curran – Defender – Ratchaburi FC (Thailand)
8. Simen Lyngbo – Defender – Persik Kediri (Indonesia)
9. Jesper Nyholm – Defender – Perak (Malaysia)
10. Christian Rontini – Persija Tangerang (Indonesia)
11. Daisuke Sato – Davao Aguilas UMak FC
12. Jefferson Tabinas – Defender – Buriram United (Thailand)
13. Paul Tabinas – Defender – Vukovar 1991 (Croatia)
14. Justin Baas – Midfielder – Unattachd
15. Matthew Baldisimo – Midfielder – York United (Canada)
16. Michael Baldisimo – Midfielder – San Jose Earthquakes (USA)
17. Kevin Ingreso – Midfielder – Unattached
18. Oskari Kekkonen – Midfielder – Lamphun Warriors (Thailand)
19. Mike Ott – Midfielder – Midfielder – Barito Putera (Indonesia)
20. Jose Elmer Porteria – Midfielder – Dewa United (Indonesia)
21. Santiago Rublico – Midfielder Atletico Madrid (Spain)
22. Mark Swainston – Midfielder – Kaya FC-Iloilo
23. Andres Aldeguer – Forward – Central Connecticut University (USA)
24. Jeremiah Borlongan – Forward – Dynamic Herb Cebu FC
25. Javier Gayoso – Forward – Kaya FC-Iloilo
26. Theo Libarnes – Forward – Far Eastern University
27. Patrick Reichelt – Forward – Kuala Lumpur City FC (Malaysia)
28. Chima Uzoka – Forward – Dynamic Herb Cebu FC