Manny Pacquiao leads Team Philippines in Netflix’s Physical: Asia

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Netflix has unveiled the eight-country lineup for Physical: Asia, the newest installment in the hit Physical:100 franchise, with boxing legend Manny Pacquiao leading Team Philippines in a global test of strength, skill, and national pride.

The high-stakes competition marks the franchise’s first-ever nation-versus-nation format, featuring elite athletes from Korea, Japan, Thailand, Mongolia, Türkiye, Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines.

Set to premiere this October, Physical: Asia transforms the individual survival battles of previous seasons into an emotionally charged team showdown streamed globally on Netflix.

Each six-person squad is captained by a national sports icon, with Pacquiao—boxing’s only eight-division world champion—joining fellow captains such as Australia’s Robert Whittaker, Japan’s Yushin Okami, and Korea’s Dong-hyun “Stun Gun” Kim.

Team Philippines includes five other elite Filipino athletes: Fil-Am sambo national athlete Mark Mugen, strongman Ray Jefferson Querubin, national team rugby player Justin Coveney, national hurdler Robyn Lauren Brown, and CrossFit athlete Lara Liwanag.

Competing nations are represented by discipline-defining stars such as Türkiye’s oil wrestling champion Recep Kara, Mongolia’s wrestling icon Orkhonbayar Bayarsaikhan, Thailand’s Muay Thai champion Superbon, and Indonesia’s Igedz “Executioner.”

The series blends traditional and modern sports, showcasing disciplines like Korean ssireum, Turkish oil wrestling, and Mongolian wrestling alongside rugby, track and field, and combat sports.

Producer Jang Ho-gi emphasized the show’s evolution, stating, “At its heart, the Physical series is about raw competition that transcends disciplines and generations.”

“By bringing national pride into the equation, the battles will be more intense, more emotional, and more unforgettable than ever,” he added.

With past spin-offs in the U.S. and Italy receiving global acclaim, Physical: Asia raises the stakes by turning physical dominance into a fight for cultural and national honor.

Netflix describes the event as “a showcase of heritage, pride, and physical mastery on an unprecedented global stage.”

Physical: Asia premieres worldwide this October, available exclusively on Netflix. (Photos courtesy of Netflix)