LOS ANGELES – The five-day Philippine U17 Women’s National Football Team’s U.S. Talent Identification Camp, held from January 30 to February 3 at the Great Park Sports Complex in Irvine, California, successfully concluded, gathering more than 150 North America-based Filipina players and formed a central component of the team’s preparations for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup in Suzhou, China, scheduled from April 30 to May 17, 2026.
The camp marked the appointment of Nahuel “Naz” Arrarte as Head Coach of the Filipinas U17.
Arrarte, who previously served as assistant coach of the Filipinas senior squad during their historic FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 campaign, brings continuity and international expertise as the squad builds toward continental competition. The official draw for the AFC tournament will take place on February 12, 2026, at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
A key feature of the program was the implementation of a structured, standards-based identification framework designed to evaluate and monitor Filipina players across multiple age groups. The camp welcomed participants born 2009 to 2011, aligning with the national team’s long-term development strategy and the Federation’s efforts to establish an aligned pathway from youth to senior levels.
The initiative reflects PFF’s push toward a consistent, sustainable model for identifying and tracking talent, especially among the global Filipino diaspora. Rather than operating as a selection event, the camp served as a longitudinal monitoring platform that acknowledges the non-linear nature of youth development. Feedback and evaluations form part of an ongoing body of work guiding future invitations and development plans.
The participants traveled from across North America—including Washington D.C., Texas, Alabama, New York, Seattle, Vancouver, and Toronto. The turnout underscored the expanding reach of the Filipina football community and the growing pool of youth players competing at high developmental standards abroad.
“Seeing the depth of talent in the U.S. highlights the scale of what’s available to us as a nation. Programs like this connect homegrown players in the Philippines with Filipina talent abroad through one global platform, creating real pathways across all levels of development,” said Selu Lozano, Manager of the Philippine Women’s U-17 National Team.
Over the course of the camp, participants completed ten on-field sessions led by Arrarte and Lozano. The program was organized with the support of local coordinators, volunteer coaches, families, and community partners who contributed to logistics, facilities, and player welfare.
