By: Gil Moriones
TAGUIG CITY --- After 24 years since the tournament transitioned to an under-23 format, the Under-23 squad of the Philippine Men's National Football Team (PMNFT) is officially set to compete in the men's football event of the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, this September, following an announcement by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).
The last time the country fielded a men's football team in the Asian Games was way back in 1974 in Tehran, Iran. Since the competition reformatted into an under-23 tournament in 2002, the Philippines has been unable to qualify or participate.
POC President Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino confirmed the inclusion of the men's football squad in what will be the country's largest-ever delegation, consisting of 443 athletes. The Philippines aims to surpass its previous haul of four gold, two silver, and 12 bronze medals from the Hangzhou, China edition in 2022.
While the Filipinas automatically earned their berth as early qualifiers, the PMNFT's participation was greenlit after India officially withdrew from the tournament.
“We’re next in line so we got the slot,” Tolentino said.
Initially, participating men's teams were determined based on their qualification for the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup, a tournament the Philippines missed out on after falling short in the qualifiers. India and Hong Kong were also originally assigned slots ahead of the Philippines, as Australia remains ineligible to compete due to being a non-member of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
The Philippines will now feature in the 16-team Men’s football tournament as well as the 12-team Women's competition. Under the Men's tournament rules, squads must be composed of players under 23 years of age, with an allowance to field a maximum of three overage players.
