The Philippine Men’s U-23 National Football Team created a moment for the ages, clinching its first-ever semifinal appearance in the 2025 ASEAN U-23 Championship Mandiri Cup held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The national team punctuated their Group A campaign on a high note, defeating Brunei, 2-0, after a 2-0 victory over Malaysia and a 0-1 fall against Indonesia.
“Momentum is crucial in tournament football, and we’ve successfully ridden the wave of emotions this past 7 days, we have achieved all of this with only a one-week training camp leading in. I am proud and happy for the players and staff,” McPherson quipped.
It will be Vietnam who will face the Philippines after surging past Group B with a clean 2-0 record against Laos and Cambodia to secure their semifinals berth.
On the other hand, Thailand will take on the tournament host, Indonesia, after the first semifinal match.
Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President John Gutierrez lauded the U-23 team after the historic achievement, seeking support from Filipino football fans for the national team.
This is the squad's first time advancing past the group stage since their debut in 2005, where they only managed one win over Timor-Leste.
The Philippines is set to clash with the powerhouse, Vietnam, on Friday, July 25, at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.
