PFF youth football tilt opens in Negros Occidental

BAGO/VICTORIAS — The 2026 Philippine Football Federation National U16–U19 Boys’ Championship kicked off April 29, 2026, in Negros Occidental, bringing together promising young footballers from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The national competition serves as the peak stage of the country’s youth football development calendar, with top clubs representing their respective Regional Football Associations competing for national honors.

The PFF said this year’s staging reflects its continuing push to strengthen the grassroots ecosystem and build a deeper player pipeline for future national teams.

“The National U16–U19 Championship is a cornerstone of our youth development program, providing young players a platform to compete at the highest level and represent their regions with pride. Through competitions like this, we continue to build a strong foundation for the future of Philippine football,” PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez said.

The 2026 edition marks a milestone with the introduction of the inaugural U16 division.

Ten RFAs are competing in the U16 division, which will follow a structured group stage before the knockout rounds.

U16 matches will be played at the Manuel Y. Torres Sports Center in Bago City.

The U19 division will feature a two-tiered competition format designed to give emerging RFAs a route to the elite stage.

Ten emerging RFAs will be divided into two groups for the U19 national group stage.

The top three teams from each U19 group will advance to the Elite Division of the National Championship.

Already assured of places in the U19 Elite Division are the Negros Occidental Regional Football Association, National Capital Region Football Association, Cebu Regional Football Association, and Iloilo-Guimaras Regional Football Organization.

The final phase of the U19 competition will be scheduled later within the year.

Matches in the U19 Emerging Division will be held at the Victorias City National High School Football Field.

The format is designed to ensure each participating RFA gains competitive match experience while keeping the level of play high across fixtures.

The tournament also serves as a scouting platform for national team identification, aligning with the PFF’s long-term goal of developing homegrown players capable of competing regionally and internationally.

The PFF formally announced earlier this year the final list of qualified teams for the 2026 National U19 and U16 Boys’ National Championship group stages, completing 10-team rosters for both age categories.

The PFF is the governing body for football in the Philippines and is recognized by FIFA as the country’s member association.

The PFF’s official competition records show that youth tournaments, including the U19 boys’ championship, have been part of its domestic development structure in recent years.

With matches scheduled daily throughout the competition period, the 2026 PFF National U16–U19 Boys’ Championship is expected to deliver high-intensity football while promoting camaraderie and regional pride among participating teams.

The tournament also strengthens Negros Occidental’s role as a key host for youth football, with Bago City and Victorias City sharing competition duties for the national event. (PFF)