Filipinas U17 drawn with Korea DPR, Korea Republic

KUALA LUMPUR — The Philippine under-17 women’s national football team will line up against reigning world champion Korea DPR, plus regional heavyweights Korea Republic and Chinese Taipei, in Group C of the 2026 AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup in May in Suzhou, China, the Philippine Football Federation said.

The tournament will be played May 1–17, 2026, and it is the first time the competition will feature 12 teams, according to the Asian Football Confederation.

The Filipinas U17 are heading to a second straight Asian Cup after qualifying last October with a clean sweep: Syria (5-0), Tajikistan (2-0) and Malaysia (4-0).

Looking back at the program’s recent history, PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez pointed to former Filipinas U17 players who have moved up, naming veterans Inna Palacios and Camille Rodriguez, as well as Alexa Pino, Ariana Markey, and Jael Guy from the 2024 squad.

Gutierrez said the Filipinas U17 program has been “consistently showing how youth talent is integral in building a stronger senior national team.”

That youth-to-senior link is still active now, the PFF said, with goalkeeper Leah Bradley and last year’s team captain Aiselyn Sia currently part of the Filipinas senior training pool in its ongoing camp in Balesin as the team prepares for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia in March.

“We firmly believe our young Filipinas are primed to face the best of Asia. Also the tough battles against North and South Korea in 2024 have given us a better understanding on how to face such strong opponents.” Gutierrez continued.

“They will be carrying these lessons, not only for a better fight this year, but to capacitate them when the senior team calls up. This is our reason for scaling up the development of our youth squads to be formidable international competitors and not as mere participants,” he added.

The draw also sets up a repeat of matchups the Philippines already saw in Bali during the 2024 edition, when the young Filipinas faced both Koreas.

In that tournament, the Philippines opened eyes with a 6-1 win against Indonesia and a breakthrough 1-1 draw against 2010 World Cup champion South Korea, the PFF said.

North Korea, described by the PFF as a global powerhouse that went on to win a record fourth U17 Women’s World Cup last year, handed the Philippines its lone defeat, 6-0.

“DPR Korea represents the highest standard in this age group. For us, that’s not something to fear, it’s something to study,” said Filipinas U17 team manager Selu Lozano about this looming rematch.

Chinese Taipei, the PFF noted, qualified back to the Asian Cup for the first time in 11 years after beating Jordan and Bangladesh in last year’s qualifiers.

The PFF also recalled the teams’ last meeting, saying Chinese Taipei beat the Philippines 5-2 in October 2014 during the 2015 Asian Cup qualifiers.

“We’re glad to be in this group. If our objective is to take the Philippines as far as possible, we have to measure ourselves against the very best,” said Lozano.

“When you clearly understand what the top level looks like, and you honestly understand where you are, that’s when real building begins,” Lozano stressed.

“This program is not about one tournament. It’s about a 10-, 20-, even 30-year strategy to close the gap and raise our standard sustainably. In the short term, we compete to advance. In the long term, we build to belong.”

Beyond pride and progress, the Asian Cup also carries a bigger stake: the top four teams qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, according to AFC competition information.

To close, Gutierrez credited the work around the program, from the players in camp to the staff and families backing them.

“We thank the management and coaches, who are now working hard in training the participants of the talent identification camps, the players who are working doubly hard to make it to the national team, and the ever-supportive parents for believing not only in their girls, but in our national program. Together, we are going to have a strong and competent squad in the Asian Cup in May,” Gutierrez concluded.