Myanmar routs Philippines in ASEAN Championship opener

The Philippine men’s national football team opened its 2026 ASEAN Championship–Hyundai Cup campaign with a 4-1 loss to Myanmar on a waterlogged pitch at New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac, on Tuesday, July 28.

The defeat left the Philippines without a point in Group B and increased the pressure on its young squad to secure results from its remaining three matches.

Myanmar climbed to second place with three points from two matches, reviving its bid for a top-two finish and a place in the semifinals after losing 2-1 to Malaysia in its tournament opener last Saturday. (

The result also allowed Myanmar to avenge its 5-1 defeat to the Philippines in the Trination Friendlies at Rizal Memorial Stadium last month.

More than 3,000 fans braved torrential rain to watch the match, which proceeded as scheduled despite a heavy downpour shortly before kickoff.

Myanmar coach Jørn Andersen said the rain arrived about 45 minutes before the match and affected the playing surface, but his players adjusted better to the difficult conditions.

Kyaw Min Oo put Myanmar ahead in the seventh minute after Soe Moe Kyaw’s header from a corner kick struck the crossbar.

Kyaw reacted first to the rebound and headed the ball over the line.

Myanmar continued to press, but Philippines goalkeeper Quincy Kammeraad stopped several attempts from the visitors.

Than Paing doubled Myanmar’s advantage in the 28th minute after Maung Maung Lwin’s through ball split the defense of Daisuke Sato and Noah Leddel.

Paing ran onto the pass and finished past Kammeraad with a left-footed strike.

Javier Mariona, Sandro Reyes, and Jarvey Gayoso had chances to put the Philippines on the scoreboard during the first half but failed to convert.

The Philippines was awarded a penalty in the 32nd minute after Lwin fouled Gayoso inside the box.

The decision was overturned following a video assistant referee review in the 36th minute.

The hosts improved after halftime as the pitch became more playable and began producing better combinations in attack.

Gayoso pulled the Philippines within 2-1 in the 68th minute after Mariona played him through behind the Myanmar defense.

The 29-year-old forward converted from the center of the penalty area and sent the ball into the left corner for his sixth international goal.

A VAR review confirmed the goal.

Myanmar restored its two-goal cushion through Win Naing Tun, whose header from a Hein Htet Aung cross was recorded in the 81st minute in one match account and the 82nd in another.

Paing completed his brace two minutes later, with the goal recorded in the 84th minute, after meeting a left-sided cross from Myat Kaung Khant.

Paing earned Player of the Match honors after scoring twice.

“One game before this, we lost to Malaysia 2-1. So never mind [that]. Don’t give up. We came here, we believe. Everyone believe, the coach, everyone believe,” Paing said during the post-match press conference.

Paing said the team’s belief in one another and the motivation provided by the coaching staff helped Myanmar respond after its opening defeat.

Andersen credited his team’s direct approach and determination after Myanmar created eight scoring chances and converted four of them.

“Before this game today, we said we will play like that again, fight like that again, and that’s what the team did today. Today, we could score. We have more luck. We could score and we will win the game,” Andersen said.

Andersen said he had expected his players to tire after halftime because of the demanding conditions.

“I think after halftime, I think we will go down, we have no more power. But they have a good character, they have a good heart, and they want to fight for Myanmar, and they want to win this game. So I was very happy today. I’m very proud of the players,” he added.

The Philippines controlled more possession, but Myanmar used its limited time on the ball to attack quickly and exploit spaces behind the defense.

“Myanmar is not a big team with many good players who can play tiki-taka like Spain or like Argentina. They have to use this strength that we have. We have this strength that we can play quick in the front, we can bring crosses, we can score goals, this we can do,” Andersen said.

“We are not a big team who can play 90 minutes, keep the ball possession, everything like that. So we have to use this, what we can do, and if we can use that like today, we can win games like this today,” he added.

Philippines coach Carles Cuadrat described the loss as a learning experience for a young squad still adapting to the physical and tactical demands of international football.

Cuadrat said the Philippines struggled to manage the waterlogged pitch in the first half, allowing Myanmar to capitalize on turnovers along the right side.

“We have players that can really put the opponents in troubles. But most of the match, it was not possible with that conditions of the pitch. Unfortunately, it’s part of football. I mean, we have to understand that. We also have to try to be competitive under these circumstances,” Cuadrat said.

Cuadrat said the team produced better combination play once the surface improved.

He identified gaps in set-piece defending and a lapse on a free kick that led to a Myanmar counterattack as pivotal moments in the match.

“It’s a learning match. I think that, of course, we are very angry with the result. We don’t like to lose at home. It’s the first match that we are losing for a long time. But I think that the new generation, the kids that have been representing the country, can learn a lot from that game and it’s going to be useful for them in the future,” Cuadrat added.

The coaching staff is using the tournament to assess players from the under-23 pool and the Philippines Football League ahead of the Asian Games in September.

Cuadrat cited the substitute appearances of Kenji Nishioka, Rocket Ritata, Martini Rey, and Andres Aldeguer as valuable senior-level experience for the younger players.

The Philippines will face Laos at Lao National Stadium on Aug. 1 in its next Group B match.

Cuadrat said the nine remaining points give the Philippines an opportunity to recover from the opening defeat.

“We have to be positive. We know that it’s only the first game and there is nine more points to be played… So now, if we go and we win in Laos, we are going to have more points, we are going to have three points. So this is the message, to be competitive, to keep learning,” Cuadrat said.