The Philippine Men’s National Football Team (PMNFT) under-23 squad has secured approval from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) to compete in the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, set for September 19 to October 4.
With the PMNFT gaining entry, the Philippines now fields complete representation in football after the women’s squad qualified earlier for the same competition.
PMNFT to Be Part of Large Philippine Delegation
POC President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino announced the development on Monday, June 29, as the country prepares to send one of its largest delegations yet to the quadrennial games—443 athletes.
The Philippines previously sent a record 524 athletes to the 1994 Hiroshima Games and 391 athletes to the Hangzhou edition in 2023.
“The minimum goal is to do better at these games,” Tolentino said, referring to surpassing the 4 gold, 2 silver, and 12 bronze medals earned in Hangzhou.
Including coaches and officials, the delegation could reach 700 members, with gymnastics still finalizing the qualification of five athletes in artistic events.
Filipino athletes will compete in 38 of the 47 sports programmed by the Aichi-Nagoya organizers, who imposed quotas in many individual and combat sports due to limited capacity for large delegations.
Men’s Football Team Secures Slot After India Withdrawal
The men’s football team clinched its place after India withdrew from the competition.
“We’re next in line, so we got the slot,” Tolentino explained.
Football in Aichi-Nagoya will feature 16 squads in the men’s division and 12 in the women’s side. Teams may field 18 to 22 players in the under-23 tournament, with each squad allowed a maximum of three overage players.
The approval of the PMNFT under-23 team underscores the Philippines’ growing presence in Asian Games football. With both men’s and women’s squads now confirmed, the country achieves full participation in the sport for the first time in recent memory.
The expanded delegation highlights the POC’s ambition to strengthen Philippine representation across disciplines. As Tolentino emphasized, the goal is not only to match but to exceed past medal hauls, setting a higher standard for Filipino athletes on the continental stage.
