An opinion piece in BusinessWorld reflects on the progress of Philippine football academies as part of the country’s broader football development. The article notes that while the Philippines has made strides in nurturing young talent through these academies, it still trails behind regional powerhouses such as Thailand and Vietnam.
Thailand remains the most decorated team in Southeast Asia, with multiple ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Championship titles, including wins in 2020 and 2022. Vietnam, meanwhile, has seen the most significant improvement in its national football development program over the past decade. The piece uses these examples to benchmark the Philippines’ current standing in the region.
Despite the gap, the article argues that Philippine football has come a long way, largely due to the establishment of football academies that provide structured training for young players. These academies are seen as crucial for building a sustainable pipeline of talent to elevate the national team’s competitiveness in future competitions.