Camille Naredo

The Philippine women's national football team celebrates after beating Vietnam in a penalty shootout to win the gold medal in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, December 17, 2025 at the Chonburi Stadium in Chonburi, Thailand. PFF-PWNFT via POC Media

The Philippine women's national football team celebrates after beating Vietnam in a penalty shootout to win the gold medal in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, December 17, 2025 at the Chonburi Stadium in Chonburi, Thailand.

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2025 Southeast Asian Games

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767081261871MIAM4219.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The Philippine women&#x27;s national football team celebrates after beating Vietnam in a penalty shootout to win the gold medal in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, December 17, 2025 at the Chonburi Stadium in Chonburi, Thailand. PFF-PWNFT via POC Media" width="960"/>The Philippine women&#x27;s national football team celebrates after beating Vietnam in a penalty shootout to win the gold medal in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, December 17, 2025 at the Chonburi Stadium in Chonburi, Thailand. PFF-PWNFT via POC Media</div>MANILA -- The achievements of the national football teams in the recently concluded Southeast Asian Games show that the Philippines is becoming a force to be reckoned with in the region.This, according to the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President John Gutierrez, who hailed the collective performance of the country&#x27;s football and futsal squads.The Filipinas shone brightest, winning a breakthrough gold medal -- the Philippines&#x27; first-ever football gold in the SEA Games. Meanwhile, the men&#x27;s under-22 squad returned to the semifinals for the first time since 1991, and the women&#x27;s futsal team made a competitive comeback to the biennial meet.&quot;This SEA Games campaign proved that Philippine football and futsal are no longer here just to participate—we are here to win and to be respected,&quot; Gutierrez said in a statement, Tuesday.&quot;From the gold medal of the Filipinas, to the historic semifinals of our men&#x27;s team, and the fearless women&#x27;s futsal performances, this is the strongest statement we have ever made as a football nation,&quot; he added.The federation expressed great pride, in particular, for the Filipinas who trekked a tough journey to the top of the podium. The team overcame the host nation in a testy semifinal, then dethrone four-time defending champion Vietnam in the gold medal match en route to history. &quot;This gold medal belongs to every single Filipina player who wore the badge with pride, courage, and selflessness throughout this campaign,&quot; said PFF General Secretary and PWNT Head of Delegation Gelix Mercader, who awarded the gold medals to the team.&quot;To present the medal to all 23 deserving players was deeply moving. Each one of them played a vital role in delivering this monumental achievement in Philippine women&#x27;s football.&quot;They also praised the Philippine men&#x27;s under-22 team for their best SEA Games campaign in over 30 years, and the national futsal team -- the Filipina5 -- for an encouraging performance as they competed in the regional showcase for the first time since 2011. &quot;This is the best SEA Games performance for Philippine football,&quot; said Gutierrez.  &quot;And it happened because our teams believed, our coaches prepared, and our players delivered.&quot;&quot;The 2025 SEA Games made one thing clear: the Philippines can now win in sports we once believed were beyond us—football most prominently among them,&quot; Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick Gregorio said.&quot;It is the most followed sport in the ASEAN region, and for the Filipinas to win SEA Games gold is a major step forward,&quot; he added.

The achievements of the national football teams in the recently concluded Southeast Asian Games show that the Philippines is becoming a force to be reckoned with in the region.

The achievements of the national football teams in the recently concluded Southeast Asian Games show that the Philippines is becoming a force to be reckoned with in the region.

Feats in SEA Games prove PH football teams 'here to win,' says PFF boss

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Feats in SEA Games prove PH football teams 'here to win,' says PFF boss

ABS-CBN News

Published December 30, 2025 03:55 PM PHT

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Philippine Football Federation

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