PFF seeks futsal, 8v8 football in Palarong Pambansa

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) is pushing for expanded football and futsal inclusion in the Palarong Pambansa, with key proposals to institutionalize elementary girls’ futsal, high school girls’ football, and an eight-a-side format for elementary boys’ football.

During a stakeholders’ forum, PFF President John Gutierrez formally requested the Department of Education (DepEd) to recognize these disciplines as regular sporting events, after successful pilot runs during the 2024 and 2025 editions of Palaro.

“The success and competitiveness of these events clearly demonstrate the strong interest and growing potential of girls in both futsal and football,” said Gutierrez.

“It will empower more young girls to participate in sports, promote gender equality, and nurture future national players who may one day represent our country,” he added.

Gutierrez emphasized that transitioning these events from invitation-only to fully recognized competitions would expand grassroots participation and help identify future national team talents through the school division qualifiers.

The PFF is also advocating for a format change in elementary boys’ football—proposing an eight-a-side setup in place of the current eleven-a-side.

“Modern best practices in youth development globally recommend small-sided formats—such as eight-a-side for elementary-age children—to provide more touches on the ball, improved skill development, and greater inclusion,” Gutierrez said.

“This adjustment would create a more age-appropriate and development-focused environment for our younger footballers,” he added.

The recommendation aligns with FIFA-endorsed models that emphasize small-sided games for early player development, a principle adopted in leading youth football nations.

National football tournament director Rufino Arellano lauded Gutierrez’s active participation in the forum.

“His presence conveyed the message of what we have been requesting,” said Arellano.

He noted that the proposal was “positively embraced and supported” by two Palaro board members and the Palarong Pambansa Secretary General, marking a major step toward official implementation.

These initiatives are part of a wider, long-term collaboration among the PFF, DepEd, the Philippine Sports Commission, and other stakeholders to deepen football and futsal development nationwide.

The PFF’s efforts come ahead of the Philippines’ hosting of the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup, scheduled for November 21 to December 7, 2025, positioning the country at the forefront of the sport’s growth in Asia.

By integrating age-appropriate formats and promoting equal access for girls, the PFF hopes to transform school-based sports into a stronger pipeline for national-level competition and international success.