The Philippine men’s football national team has secured a spot in the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, completing the country’s participation in both football divisions after the women’s team had already qualified earlier for the September 19 to October 4 competition.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino announced the development on Monday, as the Philippines looks to send its largest delegation in the last eight editions of the quadrennial meet, with 443 athletes.
The country’s largest-ever Asian Games contingent remains the 524-athlete delegation it fielded at the 1994 Hiroshima Games. The Philippines, meanwhile, sent 391 athletes to the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.
“The minimum goal is to do better at these games,” said Tolentino, referring to the country’s haul of four gold, two silver, and 12 bronze medals in Hangzhou.
The total Philippine delegation — including coaches and officials — could swell to nearly 700, with gymnastics still awaiting confirmation of five additional qualifiers in the artistic events.
Filipino athletes are set to compete in 38 of the 47 sports on the Aichi-Nagoya program. Organizers imposed athlete quotas in several individual and combat sports due to the hosts’ limited capacity to accommodate larger delegations.
The Philippine men’s football team earned its berth after India withdrew from the tournament.
“We’re next in line, so we got the slot,” Tolentino said.
The football competition in Aichi-Nagoya will feature 16 teams in the men’s division and 12 in the women’s tournament. Each squad may field 18 to 22 players in the under-23 competition, with a maximum of three overage players allowed on each roster.
