Football: PH U-17 team qualifies to AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup anew

MANILA — The Philippine Under-17 Women’s National Football Team (Filipinas U17) qualified for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup for the third consecutive time, sweeping Group H of the 2027 qualifying tournament with a 3-0 win over Bangladesh on Sunday at Do’stlik Stadium Training Pitch 1.

The Philippines had earlier beaten host Uzbekistan, 4-0, on October 5.

“Qualifying once is an achievement. Qualifying three times in a row tells us the work behind this program is sustainable. Each batch of the Filipinas U17 has built on the one before it, and we are proud of every player, staff member, and supporter who made this possible,” said PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez.

The Filipinas U-17 needed 73 minutes to break through against Bangladesh, with right back Maya Rose Bascara tapping the ball in during a scramble after a left corner. Goalkeeper Abigail Garcia kept the lead intact in the 79th by denying Alpi Akter in a one-on-one counterattack.

Noelle Granger then sealed the result late, scoring in the 90th minute off a fine through ball from substitute Ariana Gementiza. She completed her brace less than a minute later to bring her total to five goals in two qualification games.

The result extends a run of Asian Cup qualifications by the Filipinas U17, and players from earlier batches are now part of the senior Filipinas squad. Alexa Pino, Jael Guy and Ariana Markey of Batch ‘24, and Aiselyn Sia, Tea Pidding and Leah Bradley of Batch ‘26, are now regular members of the national team.

The Filipinas are making a second straight appearance in the FIFA Women’s World Cup next year.

“Sustainable excellence means a young player can see a path from the U17 team to the senior national team. Alexa, Jael, Ariana, Aiselyn, Tea, and Leah are examples of that path, and they are helping the Filipinas as the senior team pursues a second straight World Cup. We want every new batch to follow them, and we are seeing great potential in the current U17 Filipinas,” said Gutierrez.

The Filipinas U17 will set their sights on the 2027 AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup in April 2027 in China. The tournament’s draw will be held in December 2026.