Philippines

Philippines

The Philippine national football team, nicknamed the Azkals, is governed by the Philippine Football Federation and competes in the AFC. Although football has long been overshadowed by basketball in the Philippines, the Azkals gained prominence in the 2010s by recruiting Filipino-heritage players from Europe and North America. Their breakthrough came in the 2010 AFF Championship, where they reached the semi-finals, and they again reached the semi-finals in 2014. The Philippines qualified for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, their first major continental tournament, reaching the group stage. Key figures include goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, who also played in the English Premier League for Cardiff City, and forward Patrick Reichelt.