BANDUNG–The Philippine Men’s National Football Team (PMNFT) is set to open a new chapter in regional competition as it prepares for the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup Elite Division in Bandung, Indonesia, running from September 24 to October 5, 2026.
The Philippines has been drawn into Group B alongside Vietnam, Thailand, and Pakistan, with all matches to be played at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium.
Unlike last August’s ASEAN Football Championship — Hyundai Cup, the FIFA ASEAN Cup falls within the official September-October 2026 FIFA international window, allowing the Philippines to call up several of its top players from clubs abroad who were previously unavailable.
PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez underscored the importance of the tournament as a milestone for Philippine football.
“This inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup represents a new benchmark for football in our region, and it’s a privilege for the Philippines to be part of its first chapter,” Gutierrez said. “With this tournament falling within an official FIFA window, our fans will get to see our strongest possible squad take the pitch, and that’s an exciting moment for the entire program.”
Head coach Carles Cuadrat welcomed the return of key players who had been unavailable since the national team’s last official FIFA match in March, a 1-1 draw in Tajikistan that saw the Philippines fall just short of qualifying for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup by a single goal.
“Six months after our last official FIFA match, we are finally able to reunite the core players of our national team,” Cuadrat said. “We are delighted to welcome back players with significant international experience, such as Amani Aguinaldo, Jesper Nyholm, Zico Bailey, Kevin Ray Mendoza, and goalscorer Bjørn Martin Kristensen, after a six-month absence.”
Cuadrat also addressed several notable absences from the squad. Gerrit Holtmann and Michael Kempter asked to be excused due to family circumstances, with the team extending its congratulations to both on the recent arrival of their babies. Meanwhile, Raphael Obermair, Javi Mariona, Josef Baccay, Kike Linares, and Dylan De Muynck requested time to recover from significant injuries and focus on their clubs, though all have reaffirmed their commitment to the national team ahead of 2027.
On a brighter note, Cuadrat pointed to the continued emergence of promising young talent.
“From [previous]matches, we have been able to identify promising young players who will be joining us again, such as Cole Mrowka and Kenji Nishioka, and once again call up the goalscorers from the June Trination Cup: André Leipold, Sebastian Rasmussen, and Jarvey Gayoso.”
The squad will also see two fresh faces make their potential Philippines debut in Bandung: Former Bayern Munich player Angelo Brückner and Brighton & Hove Albion U21 prospect Isaiah Alakiu, both bringing added depth to the team’s long-term pipeline.
Cuadrat noted that scouting efforts continue to identify future prospects, including Anthony Markanich, Nick Markanich, Sammy Chesworth, and Jacob Erlandson as the program builds toward World Cup qualifying.
“A few days of great excitement lie ahead, and hopefully the team can inspire its fans and gain new experience in this new competition within the FIFA program,” Cuadrat said.
The Philippines opens its campaign against Vietnam on September 26 at 7:30 p.m., before facing Pakistan on September 29 at 4:00 p.m. and closing the group stage against Thailand on October 2 at 4:00 p.m., all at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, Indonesia. PFF invites Filipinos based in the city to come and cheer for the national team on these dates.
