Filipinas, U23 men face tough Asian Games groups

The Filipinas and the Philippine men’s national under-23 football team have been drawn into challenging groups for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

The official football draw was held Thursday ahead of the continental competition in September.

The draw gives both Philippine teams difficult routes to the knockout stage, with the Filipinas facing one of Asia’s leading women’s teams and the returning men’s squad meeting two recent continental and regional medalists.

The Filipinas will compete in Group G against reigning bronze medalist and world No. 16 China, No. 51 Uzbekistan, and No. 81 Hong Kong.

The Philippine women are entering their second consecutive Asian Games campaign after securing another berth in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be held in Brazil.

The qualification marked the Filipinas’ second straight appearance in the global tournament after their historic debut in 2023.

The Filipinas will also enter the Asian Games as the reigning Southeast Asian Games champions.

They won the Philippines’ first gold medal in women’s football at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, last December.

On the men’s side, the Philippine under-23 team will return to the Asian Games football tournament after a 52-year absence.

The Philippines, the lowest-ranked team in its group at world No. 135, will compete in Group C against No. 99 Vietnam, No. 60 Uzbekistan, and No. 133 Kuwait.

Vietnam won the men’s football gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games, while Uzbekistan is the reigning Asian Games bronze medalist.

Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said last month that the men’s team secured its berth after India withdrew from the tournament.

The appearance will be the Philippines’ first in the Asian Games men’s football competition since 1974.

The supplied release also described the Filipinas’ participation as the country’s first women’s appearance since 1990, although it separately stated that the team is making its second straight Asian Games appearance.

Football competition at the Asian Games will run from Sept. 14 to Oct. 3.

Matches will be played at seven venues across six host cities in Japan’s Chubu and Kansai regions.