Philippines U16 booters bag Lion City Cup

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine youth football is on a roll, with the Phl U16 team topping the Lion City Cup in Singapore just after an earlier title run by a select 16U team in the Thailand International Youth Cup in Chonburi.

Kaya FC-Iloilo looks to build on its gains from last season as it vies for a strong showing in the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Two (ACL Two) hostilities.

The three-time Philippine titlist takes on Singapore’s Tampines Rovers at 6 p.m. today at the New Clark City Stadium in Tarlac.

Both defied the odds and soared to the top with strong guidance and tutelage from the National Capital Region Football Association Center of Excellence (NCRFA-COE) led by its president Miguel Alberto “Mico” Gutierrez.

“We have a lot of Filipino talents in football and there is a need for strong support. We hope to provide that support and opportunity for our aspiring players. Our role is to nurture that potential, create pathways for excellence, and give every deserving child the chance to shine,” said Gutierrez.

Sen. Bong Go filed Senate Resolution No. 57 commending and congratulating the team for its glorious feat, marking the first Lion’s Cup championship by the country since its revival in 2013.

Last June, also with the strong guidance of NCRFA-COE, a team of select football talents from different schools claimed the crown in the Thailand International Youth Cup.

The team is now levelling up on a campaign to compete in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U17 Qualifier in November.