The 216 entries broke the turn-out of participation in the last Aboitiz Football Festival which stood at 136.
The turn-out of teams is expected to draw close to 2,500 players.
Several out-of-town squads from Luzon, other areas in the Visayas and Mindanao are joining the event with the hope of not only testing their might against Cebu's most promising and seasoned players but also with the aim of getting the attention of talent scouts from the Philippine Football Federation.
It was revealed in yesterday's press conference, led by Cebu Football Association president Jonathan Maximo along with CebuFA board member Jackie Lotzof and Romy Ronquillo, board of trustee in the Aboitiz Group Foundation, Inc. (AGFI), that PFF is most interested in looking into the best boys' 12 under and boys' 14 to form the Philippine team to an Asian event next year.
Among the out-of-town squads are Ateneo de Davao, Cagayan de Oro Football Center, Masbate City Football Club, Negros Occidental FA, San Carlos City FC, Dumaguete FC, Naga City, and Camarines Sur FA.
From only six events last year, this year's staging will be featuring a total of 11 categories including the Players 6, 8 and 10, boys and girls' 12-under and 17-under, boys' 14-under and men and women's open and the men's 36 and above class.
The men's 23-under have been taken out due to time constraints.
Had there been a men's 23-under, the teams could have gone up to close to 250.
The 23-under squads have been placed under the men's open.
The men's open, which will be played following a 7-aside format, draws the biggest number of entries with 39 followed by the players-10 with 34 entries and the boys'17-under with 28 squads.
With the huge turnout of entries, there will be evening games as well.
Winners of the event will be receiving medals plus special awards for the best players in each class.