A Southeast Asian team calls up mostly naturalized stars for the Asian Cup

17/03/2026 08:37:00 GoalGuru

The Philippine national team has just announced a call-up list that is almost entirely composed of players with foreign origins.

The Philippine national team has just announced a call-up list to prepare for the crucial match against Tajikistan on March 31st within the framework of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. The most notable aspect is not only the squad's quality, but also the origins and playing environments of the summoned players.

According to statistics, among the total 21 players in this training camp, up to 17 were born outside Philippine territory, accounting for about 80% of the squad. Most of these players have Filipino heritage and were trained in various developed football systems worldwide.

652053251_17941245585161222_1393189175152385088_n — 17 out of 21 Philippine players called up have foreign backgrounds

Not only differing in birthplace, the current clubs of the Philippine national players also draw much attention. The Philippine Football League (PFL) is almost "absent" from the list, with only two players currently playing domestically: goalkeeper Patrick Deyto of Kaya-Iloilo and veteran defender Daisuke Sato from Club One Taguig.

The rest of the "Azkals" squad is playing in various countries, spanning from Asia to Europe and America. Notably, the Thai League has become a familiar destination for many Philippine national players, featuring names like Kevin Ray Mendoza, Michael Kempter, Kike Linares, Jesper Nyholm, Jefferson Tabinas, Oskari Kekkonen, Manny Ott, and Jarvey Gayoso.

1 đội tuyển gọi Đông Nam Á gọi toàn sao nhập tịch cho VL Asian Cup 807743 — The most notable name is Gerrit Holtmann, who previously played in the Bundesliga and is currently in Bundesliga 2

Additionally, the Philippine national team also possesses several players competing in leagues across Europe and America. These include forward Gerrit Holtmann of VfL Bochum (Germany), Paul Tabinas in Croatia, Bjorn Kristensen in Norway, Sebastian Rasmussen in Denmark, Andre Leipold playing in the Netherlands, and the trio Zico Bailey, Javier Mariona, and Alex Monis currently playing football in the United States.

Utilizing players with Filipino heritage who grew up in developed football systems is becoming a key strategy for the Philippine Football Federation (PFF). According to the national team's new head coach, this overseas-playing contingent will be the foundation for enhancing Philippines' competitiveness within the region and continent.

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