PHILIPPINES continue to build on their growing legacy in international football, as the Men’s Under-23 National Team advances to the semifinals of the 2025 U23 ASEAN Championship Mandiri Cup.

Before a live crowd in Jakarta, Indonesia, head coach Garrath McPherson guided the youthful side to their first-ever semifinal appearance in the tournament’s history, finishing second in Group A.

The squad collected six points with wins over Malaysia and Brunei, securing a place among the final four, where they are set to clash with Vietnam tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. (Philippine Time) at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

Nail-Biting Qualification

Earning that semifinal berth, however, was no simple task, as much of their fate hinged on outcomes from other group matches—even after handling their own games effectively.

Under the competition’s format, the Philippines’ 2-0 win over fourth-place Brunei wasn’t factored into the second-place rankings. This meant the team had to wait for the results of two remaining matches to determine their semifinal fate.

Vietnam edged Cambodia 2-1, while Thailand and Myanmar ended in a draw on Tuesday night. For the Philippines to progress, Vietnam needed to avoid defeat to Cambodia, and Thailand had to avoid a loss as well.

Thanks to those favorable outcomes, the Philippines officially clinched a spot in the semifinals, emerging as the best-performing runner-up in the group stage.

Making History

With the achievement, the team reached the semifinals of this regional competition—established in 2005—for the very first time. It also marks the highest group stage point tally ever recorded by the Philippines in the tournament.

Recognizing the significance of this milestone, Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President John Gutierrez promptly praised the young team for their remarkable accomplishment.

“Our U23 Men’s Team reaching the Mandiri Cup semi-finals is a historic moment for Philippine football,” Gutierrez said.

“Their incredible run shows what a team, embodying the SAMA-SAMA spirit, can achieve. We’re excited to carry this forward and make their dreams a reality. We are immensely proud,” he added.

This breakthrough gives the U-23 squad a chance to bring home the Philippines’ second AFF championship title, following the Philippine Women’s National Team’s historic victory in the 2022 AFF Women’s Championship held at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Should the Philippines prevail over Vietnam, they’ll earn a spot in the final against either host nation Indonesia or Thailand. A defeat, on the other hand, would send them to the bronze medal match on Monday, where they’ll face the loser of the Indonesia-Thailand semifinal.