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The Men's Philippine Football Team and Iraq battle in a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match in Manila on March 26, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

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FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers

Romwel Anzures

ABS-CBN News

<div dir="ltr" style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-tap-highlight-color:rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3);-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:577px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171152508774820240326-fifa-pilipinas-iraq-2MD_5583-MD.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">PMNFT veteran Neil Etheridge against Iraq. <strong id="isPasted"><em></em></strong><em></em><em>Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Philippine men&#x27;s national football team was dealt a heavy beating by Asian powerhouse Iraq last night during their 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers bout at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/3/26/fifa-philippines-falters-against-iraq-remains-winless-in-group-f-2019">READ: Philippines falters against Iraq, remains winless in Group F</a></div><p>In front of 10,014 fans on their home field, the Filipinos absorbed a 5-0 loss that kept them winless in Group F. It was an especially disappointing result as they had kept it close against Iraq in the away leg, only surrendering a late goal in the 0-1 defeat last Friday.</p><p>PMNT team captain Neil Etheridge can&#x27;t help but offer an apology for their showing, saying that their loss was a result of the Nationals&#x27; crucial errors. </p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s tough,&quot; the squad&#x27;s goalkeeper told reporters following the game. &quot;Coming off traveling to their place, and then coming back home and losing by such a significant score, it&#x27;s tough for the players.&quot;</p><p>&quot;I think it&#x27;s tough for me to stand here because I don&#x27;t like to apologize, but at the same time, I do feel that at this stage, it&#x27;s necessary,&quot; added Etheridge. &quot;We made some crucial mistakes at crucial times and we got punished for that tonight.&quot; he continued.</p><p>Good thing for the Philippines, all hope is not lost. </p><p>&quot;But like I said, it&#x27;s a learning curve for everyone,&quot; the 34-year-old shot-stopper pointed out.</p><p>While it will be a tough task for the team, the Tom Saintfiet-led squad&#x27;s chances of advancing into the World Cup Qualifiers&#x27; next round are not impossible. </p><p>They are set to face Vietnam and Indonesia in early June, which is why Etheridge wants the squad to move past the result  and instead look at how its lessons can help them grow and improve more. </p><p>&quot;We have a chance, we have two games. We know we need to get six points from those two games. We need to move forward. We need to forget the game, but learn from it,&quot; he stressed.</p><p>&quot;In football, you need to move forward very quickly and that&#x27;s what we need to do this time around because we don&#x27;t have time to dwell on that game, that result, we need to move forward. We&#x27;ve got camp and then hopefully internationals in June together,&quot; he added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/3/26/fifa-coach-apologizes-for-ph-loss-to-iraq-thanks-fans-758">READ: Coach apologizes for PH loss to Iraq, thanks fans</a></div><p>Only the top two teams from Group F, which also includes Indonesia and Vietnam, will advance into the Qualifiers&#x27; next round and earn a spot in the 2027 Asian Cup, while the bottom two will be disqualified from World Cup contention. </p><p>The Philippines is currently at No.4 and only holds a point, Iraq is at first with 12 points, Indonesia is second with seven, while Vietnam follows with three.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="2998078"></ivs-player></div><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script>

<p>The Philippine men’s national football team was dealt a heavy beating by Asian powerhouse Iraq last night during their 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers bout at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.</p>

The Philippine men’s national football team was dealt a heavy beating by Asian powerhouse Iraq last night during their 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers bout at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

Football: Loss to Iraq shows PH's 'learning curve,' says Etheridge

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Football: Loss to Iraq shows PH's 'learning curve,' says Etheridge

Romwel Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 27, 2024 05:45 PM PHT

Read More:

Football

FIFA

2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

Neil Etheridge

Philippine men's national football team

PMNFT

PFF

Philippine Football Federation

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