By el Amigo
MANILA — The Philippines’ Under-15 football squad has shown that locally developed players can compete internationally, giving the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) renewed optimism about the country’s grassroots development program.
PFF president John Anthony Gutierrez said the team’s participation in the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan, demonstrated the potential of young Filipino footballers, most of whom came from local clubs, schools and regional football associations.
“Our U15s’ performance tells us that our homegrowns, when given a platform, can compete well against opponents from other continents,” Gutierrez said, describing the group stage as a test of the players’ readiness for international competition.
He stressed that exposure to teams from around the world was an important learning opportunity for the young Filipinos.
The Philippine side opened its campaign with three consecutive defeats against Morocco, Liberia and Costa Rica before responding with an emphatic 8-1 win over Curaçao and a 1-0 victory against Belize. The team finished fourth in Group F with six points.
The Filipinos carried their momentum into the classification round, beating Macau, 2-0, before losing to Tajikistan and Zimbabwe.
Gutierrez also underscored the value of introducing young players to the eight-a-side format, which the PFF and Department of Education have incorporated into local youth competitions.
He said the format provides more opportunities for players to touch the ball, make decisions and score. The federation began promoting its use in the Palarong Pambansa and youth leagues in 2024.
Gutierrez praised the players and coaching staff under head coach Roxy Dorlas, saying their international experience had given Philippine football a foundation to build on.
The campaign has strengthened the case for sustained investment in homegrown talent as the country seeks to improve its competitiveness in international football.
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