The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) is working with the Department of Education and Philippine Sports Commission for football and futsal development through the Palarong Pambansa.
During a recent stakeholders’ forum personally attended by PFF President John Gutierrez, he formally requested the Department of Education (DepEd) for Palarong Pambansa to include elementary girls’ futsal and secondary (high school) girls’ football as permanent sports event, and to change the current eleven-a-side elementary boys’ football to eight-a-side.
The request follows the successful staging of these events as exhibition sports in the 2024 and 2025 Palarong Pambansa. Gutierrez explained that making them regular sports will open up opportunities for more young girls to play. This shift from invitation-only tournaments to a full national competition, starting with school division qualifiers, will promote wider participation and align with the PFF’s goal of discovering and nurturing future national team players.
“The success and competitiveness of these events clearly demonstrate the strong interest and growing potential of girls in both futsal and football,” Gutierrez said. “It will empower more young girls to participate in sports, promote gender equality, and nurture future national players who may one day represent our country.”
Adjusting Rules for Youth Development
The PFF is also seeking a change for elementary boys’ football, proposing a switch from the current eleven-a-side format to a more age-appropriate eight-a-side game.
According to Gutierrez, this adjustment aligns the Palaro with modern global standards for youth competition. He noted that small-sided games maximize touches on the ball and improve skill development, creating a more engaging environment for younger players. The traditional eleven-a-side format, he explained, is better suited for older athletes.
“Modern best practices in youth development globally recommend small-sided formats—such as eight-a-side for elementary-age children—to provide more touches on the ball, improved skill development, and greater inclusion. This adjustment would create a more age-appropriate and development-focused environment for our younger footballers,” said Gutierrez.
Positive Reception and Future Collaboration
National football tournament director Rufino Arellano praised Gutierrez for his direct engagement, noting that his presence at the forum “conveyed the message of what we have been requesting.” Arellano highlighted that the proposal was “positively embraced and supported” by two Palaro board members and the Palarong Pambansa Secretary General, bringing the request closer to official approval.
These proposed changes are part of a larger, collaborative effort to strengthen football and futsal programs across the country.
PFF is also working closely with the government and various stakeholders, a partnership that will be highlighted when the Philippines hosts the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup from November 21 to December 7, 2025.
