Filipinas U17 open Asian Cup bid in China

SUZHOU, China — The Philippine Women’s National Team Under-17 squad returns to the continental stage as the Young Filipinas compete in the 2026 AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup from May 1 to 17 at the Suzhou Taihu Football Sports Centre in Suzhou, China.

The tournament also serves as a qualifier to the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, giving the Young Filipinas a high-stakes platform against some of Asia’s strongest youth teams.

Philippine Football Federation President John Anthony Gutierrez said the team’s preparation reflects the federation’s commitment to building the next generation of Filipinas.

“Our U17 team has prepared with intent and purpose, with strategic camps in the Philippines, Thailand, and China, and with elite friendlies against New Zealand, Thailand, Myanmar, and China. We believe this group represents the future of Philippine women’s football.”

The Philippines was drawn with South Korea, North Korea and Chinese Taipei, according to the schedule provided by the PFF.

The Young Filipinas will face South Korea on May 2 at 3:30 p.m., Philippine time.

They will take on North Korea on May 5 at 7:30 p.m.

The team will close its group schedule against Chinese Taipei on May 8 at 7:30 p.m.

The Asian Football Confederation lists the 2026 AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup as a 12-team tournament in Suzhou from May 1 to 17, with the top four teams qualifying for the 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

The Philippines will field a squad composed of locally developed talents and internationally based Filipinas.

The goalkeepers are Leah Parker Bradley, Brooke Anika Solis and Ava Marillena Strauss.

The field players are Savannah Kaitlyn Chheng, Alyssa Grace Cromwell, Sachiko Darcy Davis, Ariana Sofia Enderes, Louraine Harvey Evangelista, Ava Rose Garcia, Brooklin Marley Gleason, Zada August Goslee, Maeva Angela Javier, Quinn Lily Kellogg, Bethany Grace Kingsbury, Zayla Sol Azzariah Lintag, Chiara Angelina Mizzo, Kaida Elizabeth Mizzo, Maya Cecille Penetrante, Khloe Felysa Rivera, Luna Catalina Rivera, Aiselyn Marie Sia, Addison Akemi Subala and Yurika Amor Valdevieso.

The reserves are Adriana Marguerite Bautista, Carlene Marie Isabelle Dy, Martina Natalia Horn and Lauren Marie Taylor Tiangco.

Head coach Nahuel “Naz” Arrarte leads the squad after serving as an assistant coach for the Philippine women’s national football team during its historic 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign.

Arrarte is joined by assistant coaches Marnelli “Let” Dimzon and Jim Ashley Flores.

Dimzon was a former Filipinas head coach from 2017 to 2019.

Spanish-Australian goalkeeping coach Jose Fernando Bello is also part of the staff.

“The young players are inspired by the ongoing success of the senior national team and hopefully the next Hali Long, Olivia Mc Daniel or Jackie Sawicki will come through the youth programs that are being put in place,” coach Arrarte told pff.org.ph. “Alignment is the key to success in order to deliver players a positive pathway to the senior national team.”

The team is managed by Selu Lozano, president of Makati Football Club.

Lozano champions holistic player development, combining technical skill, character formation and global exposure to raise the level of Filipino youth football.

“The success of the senior Filipinas has shown what’s possible on the world stage. Our responsibility now is to build the base—from U15 to U17 to U20—and connect talent across the Philippines and the global Filipino community. The pieces have always been there, but never fully synchronized. What we’re doing now is integrating everything into one system and one pathway to sustain that level for the long term.”

The Filipinas U17 enter the 2026 Asian Cup not only to compete, but also to continue building a system.

“Building the youth programs of the women’s game is paramount for the longevity of our sport in the Philippines,” Arrarte concluded.

“Exposure at the highest level is very important and playing some of the best teams in the world will only benefit everyone involved.”

The PFF said the team returns with greater depth, preparation and belief after a narrow miss in the previous Asian Cup cycle.

The Philippines made its AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup debut in 2024 after qualifying for the tournament for the first time in the program’s history.

The 2026 campaign represents another step in developing a consistent pathway for Filipina players from grassroots football to the global stage. (PFF)