The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) is pleased to announce that Men’s National Team Head Coach Carles Cuadrat has joined the Philippine Under-23 Men’s National Football Team in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, for the upcoming AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers.
Cuadrat’s presence reflects the Federation’s continued commitment to strengthening the national teams program from the ground-up. Coach Cuadrat will provide guidance and support to U23 Head Coach Michael Martinez Alvarez and to U23 Assistant Coach Popoy Clarino, reinforcing the Federation’s commitment to aligning both the youth and senior national team programs.
PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez mentioned: “Having Coach Cuadrat with the U23s ensures our young players acquire the technical, tactical, and disciplinary foundation required to advance to the senior level. This integration strengthens our playing philosophy and is key to building a competitive national program in Southeast Asia.”
The U23 squad includes several players who have already featured for the senior team, such as Sandro Reyes, Alex Monis, Santi Rublico, Javier Mariona, and Uriel Dalapo.
The Philippines is in Group K together with Syria, Nepal, and host nation Tajikistan. The team will open its campaign against Syria on 3 September 2025 at 6:00 PM (9:00 PM Manila time), followed by matches against Tajikistan on 7 September (12:00 AM Manila time) and Nepal on 9 September (9:00 PM Manila time) at the Pamir Stadium in Dushanbe.
