Top 5 greatest moments in Philippine football history

Following an ongoing run in the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games that will see both of the Philippines’ national football teams enter the semifinals, football has never been better in the country. Progress is apparent in every tournament as both teams have shown massive improvements compared to previous teams in history.

Speaking of history, the Philippines’ football programs have seen some iconic ups and some heart-wrenching downs. Today, we’ll visit the moments that shaped football in a country mostly preoccupied with basketball, but has slowly learned to love the beautiful game.

Here are Sports News PH’s greatest moments in Philippine football history:

look at what it means for the boys 🥹

they have ended the 34 years of frustration for ph football at the sea games! 🔥

the quest for our first ever medal continues and very much alive

LABAN PILIPINAS!!! 🙏🇵🇭 pic.twitter.com/8DjNW2WL4j

— K 💫 (@keifornal) December 8, 2025

5. Filipinas clinch their first-ever regional tournament trophy

The start of the 2020s was a transformative time for the Filipinas, who clinched a historic FIFA World Cup berth in the AFC Asian Cup in January of 2022, but then followed it up by capturing their first AFF Women’s Championship with a 4-0 victory against Vietnam.

It was a perfect example of the Filipinas forever pursuit of making history on the international stage. From being an afterthought to the men’s team, the Filipinas became the main attraction courtesy of a 2022 full of historic moments, perfectly capped off with their first-ever regional championship. 

4. Phil Younghusband becomes the top scorer

When Phil Younghusband and his brother James came to the Philippines from a contract with Chelsea FC in 2005, thanks to Football Manager, nobody would have imagined how impactful they would be. Especially Phil, who clearly had the instincts of a deadly scorer.

Their arrivals – and eventual dominance — would become the benchmark for success in the team and catapult the brothers and the whole team to the next level. Their popularity correlated with the team’s, and reached one of its breaking points in a game we’ll talk about later. Phil would become the team’s all-time top goal scorer with 52 goals in 108 appearances, becoming the standard for the next great Filipino footballer.

3. Paulino Alcántara’s hat-trick caps off PH’s 15-2 win over Japan

Not a lot of Filipinos have heard about their nation’s greatest footballer but once upon a time, a Filipino would reign as FC Barcelona’s greatest striker before Lionel Messi. Paulino Alcántara was the standard-bearer who put the Philippines on the footballing map very early.

It was highlighted in 1917, when Alcántara and the Philippines recorded their biggest win ever against Japan. 15 goals were scored by the Filipinos, 3 of which were Alcántara’s, establishing him and his country’s dominance against powerhouse Japan. 

2. Miracle in Hanoi

In the 2010s, Philippine football had entered a renaissance period, courtesy of consistent play internationally and the talent found within the team. The Younghusbands, Neil Etheridge, and Chieffy Caligdong are among the players who signified the country’s rise and emerging love for football.

However, it all wouldn’t have been possible if the Azkals had failed to beat Vietnam in Hanoi. After all, the Philippines was regarded as the weakest team in Asia at that time, and was entering hostile territory. But what happened was nothing short of greatness as the Philippines conquered the odds and beat the Vietnamese, 2-0, and thus, broke the glass ceiling for football in the country.

1. 2023 FIFA World Cup

Nothing can compare to seeing your country score a goal in the FIFA World Cup. The tournament, revered by many as the greatest tournament in sports, has been a dream for Filipinos since the beginning, but inconsistent results have hampered their chances in both the men’s and women’s teams.

In 2022, however, the Filipinas emerged and blasted through history to secure a spot in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. No one had expected it, yet the Filipinas became one of the best teams in Asia and entered the World Cup with nothing to lose but everything to gain.

Hearing the national anthem in the world’s most historic stage was enough on its own, yet entering the second match in the tourney against New Zealand after a defeat in the first match to Switzerland A, the Filipinas did what they do best: make history. 

Sarina Bolden would go down in history as the Philippines’ first-ever goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history. Her slick header was the moment every Filipino realized why they called it the beautiful game. Joy and celebrations heightened when the Filipinas would eventually win the match, and despite exiting the tournament after a landslide loss in their next fixture, the Filipinas still conquered expectations and set forth a milestone that only they can claim, and the future can follow.

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