U-16, U-19 tournaments for national team kicks off

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has officially launched the National Under-16 and Under-19 Championships, a countrywide initiative designed to identify and prepare young Filipino footballers for international competition and future national team duties.

“We want the best talented players to engage and be identified for potential call-ups to our national youth teams,” said PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez.

“The U16 and U19 national tournaments are designed to prepare our national teams for the upcoming AFF and AFC U17 and U20 tournaments. We want to give every young Filipino the opportunity to show their skills and represent the country,” he added.

The qualification phase kicked off on August 9, in partnership with all Regional Football Associations (RFAs), and will run until September 7.

Matches in this phase are played in the 11-a-side format, consistent with international youth standards.

The Under-16 category includes players born between 2010 and 2012, while the Under-19 category is open to those born from 2007 to 2009.

Winning teams from the local stages will advance to the Regional Qualifiers in September and October, followed by the National Group Stage in November, leading to the highly anticipated Final Stage.

The initiative also directly supports the preparation of the Philippine U17 and U20 men’s teams for the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, including the 2026 AFC U-17 Men’s Asian Cup Qualifiers scheduled in Amman, Jordan from November 22 to 30, 2025.

By aligning local youth tournaments with international calendars, the PFF aims to offer structured development and exposure to the next generation of Filipino footballers.

Gutierrez emphasized that the national championships will not only feed into the youth national teams but also help bridge the gap between grassroots football and professional opportunities.

“This new structure aims to bridge the gap between youth and senior football by connecting emerging players with opportunities in both professional and amateur leagues,” he said.

The launch reflects a broader PFF strategy to revamp the talent identification pipeline and build competitive national squads for future regional and continental events.

The PFF continues to work closely with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Department of Education (DepEd), and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) to promote football as a core sport at the grassroots and elite levels.