Philippines national football team

Philippines
Nickname(s)Azkals[1] (lit.'Street dogs')
AssociationPhilippine Football Federation
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Sub-confederationAFF (Southeast Asia)
Head coachTom Saintfiet
CaptainNeil Etheridge
Most capsPhil Younghusband (108)
Top scorerPhil Younghusband (52)
Home stadiumRizal Memorial Stadium
FIFA codePHI
First colors
FIFA ranking
Current 147 Steady (July 18, 2024)[2]
Highest111 (May 2018)
Lowest195 (September – October 2006)
First international
 Philippines 2–1 China 
(Manila, Philippines; February 4, 1913)
Biggest win
 Japan 2–15 Philippines 
(Tokyo, Japan; May 10, 1917)[3]
Biggest defeat
 Japan 15–0 Philippines 
(Tokyo, Japan; September 28, 1967)
Asian Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2019)
Best resultGroup stage (2019)
AFC Challenge Cup
Appearances3 (first in 2006)
Best resultRunners-up (2014)
ASEAN Championship
Appearances12 (first in 1996)
Best resultSemi-finals (2010, 2012, 2014, 2018)
Medal record

The Philippines national football team (Filipino: Pambansang koponan ng futbol ng Pilipinas) represents the Philippines in international football, governed by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and has been playing internationally since 1913.

Prior to World War II, the Philippines had regularly competed with Japan and the Republic of China in the Far Eastern Championship Games. So far, the national team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup[5] and has qualified for the AFC Asian Cup only once, in 2019. They finished second at the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup after losing to Palestine in the final.[6]

Unlike most of Southeast Asia where football is the most popular sport, the Philippines' most popular sports are basketball and boxing, inherited from American rule. This drives away many football talents and contributes to the lack of success of football in the country. Often, the Philippines would suffer group stage eliminations at the AFF Championship.

However, since the 2010 AFF Championship, the country has attempted to develop football as part of the sport's renaissance, finding more incentives to increase football development and fan support.[7] It eventually led to the country's first major tournament participation in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.[8]

  1. ^ John Duerden (October 5, 2015). "'We could be the second Argentina': Tom Dooley on coaching the Philippines | Football". The Guardian. Archived from the original on October 6, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  2. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. July 18, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  3. ^ Motoaki Inukai「日本代表公式記録集2008」(in Japanese) Japan Football Association p.206.
  4. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. July 15, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference feg was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Azkals forced to settle for second place at 2014 AFC Challenge Cup". GMA News Online. May 31, 2014. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  7. ^ "Yearender: Football scales new heights with Philippine Azkals". January 2, 2012. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  8. ^ "Why the Azkals' Asian Cup qualification matters to every Filipino". March 28, 2018. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

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