The Philippine Football Federation will hold two tryouts for the U17 team in the country and in the US in preparation for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup in China in May, 2026. The Philippine trials is currently ongoing at the Circuit Makita every Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
“The presidents and/or general secretaries of all PFF member Regional Football Association (RFAs) and PFF member clubs are enjoined by PFF to endorse their best under-17 female football players to join the abovementioned Philippine tryouts,” the PFF said on its website.
On the other hand, the PFF will also hold a tryout in Irvince, California on Jan. 30 to Feb. 3.
“This is about building continuity and creating a real bridge from youth football to the senior national team,” said Jose Luis “Selu” Lozano, Philippine women’s national team manager. “We are identifying players early, developing them properly, and giving them access to the same standards of coaching, preparation, and support found in top international environments. This is how you sustain success.”
This “bridge” was actualized in the Filipinas program in the 2025 SEA Games champion team, where 2024 U17 standouts like Alexa Pino, Ariana Markey, Jael Guy scoring clutch goals throughout the biennial meet and pens in the two penalty shootouts during the knockout rounds.
According to Lozano, the inclusion of overseas-based Filipino players through targeted identification camps such as the Los Angeles tryouts is a key component of the strategy.
“Filipina players are developing in different environments around the world. Our responsibility is to bring them into one clear system, one pathway, and one national identity,” he said.