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Tag: ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026

  • Patrick Deyto closes PMNT chapter where it all began 

    Patrick Deyto closes PMNT chapter where it all began 

    Patrick Deyto’s international football career came full circle in Kuala Lumpur.

     

    Twelve years after earning his first cap for the Philippines in Malaysia, the veteran goalkeeper returned to the same country for his final appearance in national team colors, closing a chapter that saw him witness and contribute to the growth of Philippine football.

     

    Deyto announced his decision to retire from international duty after the Philippines finished its ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026 campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Malaysia at Kuala Lumpur City Stadium.

     

    The 36-year-old made 22 appearances for the national team, featuring primarily as a starting goalkeeper across four editions of the regional tournament.

     

    But his final two matches showed that Deyto still had plenty to offer.

     

    He started against regional heavyweights Thailand and Malaysia, producing several important saves that kept the Philippines within reach despite both matches ending in narrow 1-0 defeats.

     

    For Deyto, those performances provided something more valuable than a winning farewell: confirmation that he could still compete at the highest level in Southeast Asia.

    “It’s another full-circle moment,” said the 36-year-old keeper after the match. “I made my first cap here in Kuala Lumpur, and for my last cap to be in Kuala Lumpur again was, I felt like, another sign to probably finish it off here. Every place I’ve been to with the national team is always special.

     

    “I spoke to the team, spoke to [the] coach (Carles Cuadrat), [and] spoke to the manager (Mico Gutierrez). I really didn’t want to tell anybody, to be honest. But [with] Coach pre-game in the warm-up, it’s like my mouth went into autopilot. I couldn’t hide my honesty. I just told him that this could be my last match because that’s probably how my body felt, really.”

     

    The decision was not made because Deyto had lost his desire to play.

     

    Instead, it came from an understanding that international football demands a different level of physical commitment, and that the time had come to give the next generation of Philippine goalkeepers their opportunity.

     

    Deyto returned to the national team after recovering from injury, with proving himself once again at international level serving as one of his biggest motivations.

     

    “I really wanted to prove to myself that I could come back to this level,” he said. “After my injury, that was my main motivation. After I did it in the last two matches, I felt contentment. I felt at peace.

     

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    He admitted, “And, you know, just like in life, everything comes to an end — even the good times. My body is also telling me to taper off, so yeah. I made a decision in the moment, and I’m happy, and I’m content.”

     

    His career also stretched across several generations of Philippine football.

     

    Early in his international journey, Deyto competed for playing time alongside established goalkeepers such as Neil Etheridge, Roland Müller, Ed Sacapano and Michael Falkesgaard.

     

    Now, he leaves the national team with Kevin Ray Mendoza, Quincy Kammeraad, Enrico Mangaoang and Nicholas Guimarães among those carrying the goalkeeping duties forward.

     

    For Deyto, that depth made the decision easier.

     

    “I feel like the younger goalkeepers in our country deserve the opportunity to be with the camp. We have a lot of goalkeepers in this country, so the goalkeeping department in the Philippines is in very good hands. So I think it was the right time to do it.”

     

    International retirement, however, does not mean the end of Deyto’s playing career.

     

    The former Thai League 1 goalkeeper remains under contract with Kaya-Iloilo and intends to continue playing at club level for the next few years.

     

    “I still have a contract with Kaya,” said the former Thai League 1 standout. “I’m planning to play for a few more years. I still feel pretty good, but in the national team, you know, it requires something a little bit extra — something a little bit more from you.

     

    For now, Deyto can look back on a national team career defined less by individual milestones and more by the experiences that came with representing the Philippines.

     

    He may not be the one to define his own legacy, but his contribution spanned an important period in the country’s football story.

     

    “I’m not sure what my legacy is. I think that’s for other people to answer. But for me, for the national team, I was giving a hundred-percent whatever role I was asked of,” he said.

     

    “I was always proud to represent the country. I am so grateful to the national team. It changed my life for sure and gave me a lot of opportunities. I enjoyed every single moment. I met so many amazing people, [had] so many good experiences, [and have been to] so many amazing places that I would never have gone to if not for the national team. So I’m just full of gratitude for the national team.

     

    “To everybody who followed me, thank you so much. To all the fans of Philippine football, I hope that we can continue to help each other to help the game progress in our country. I think we should all be united in the Philippines to bring football to the next level. That’s what I feel like all the time.”

     

    From his first cap in Kuala Lumpur to his final appearance in the same city, Deyto leaves international football with the rarest kind of ending — one that brings his journey back to where it started.

     

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  • Sandro Reyes, Daisuke Sato keep PMNT’s hopes alive after Thailand setback

    Sandro Reyes, Daisuke Sato keep PMNT’s hopes alive after Thailand setback

    The Philippine Men’s National Football Team saw its path to the next round become more difficult after suffering a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Thailand in the ASEAN Hyundai Cup on Tuesday at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.


    But despite the painful home loss, the Filipinos are refusing to let the result define their campaign.

    Midfielder Sandro Reyes praised the team’s effort and believes the squad showed enough fight throughout the match, even as Thailand’s quality eventually made the difference.

     

    “Everyone gave their fight,” Reyes said.

     

    The match remained tightly contested until Thailand found the breakthrough in the 84th minute through Waris Choolthong, whose goal handed the Philippines a difficult defeat and pushed the national team closer to elimination in Group B.

     

    For Reyes, the result was not because of one player’s mistake, emphasizing that the entire squad battled until the final whistle.

     

    Left-back Daisuke Sato shared a similar view, pointing out the improvements made by the team after its impressive 4-1 victory over Laos in their previous match. 

     

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    Sato felt the Philippines created enough opportunities to challenge Thailand but failed to capitalize on key moments.

     

    “We improved so many things. We had our moments, we are so close to winning the game but unfortunately we can’t see those moments,” Sato said.

     

    While Sato considered the defeat an unfortunate result, Reyes gave credit to Thailand’s performance and refused to label the outcome as simply bad luck.

     

    “Not unlucky of course because Thailand is really really good,” Reyes said.

     

    With their backs against the wall, the Philippines now shifts its focus to a crucial showdown against Malaysia on Saturday, August 8, at Kuala Lumpur Stadium. The national team knows a victory is vital to keep its qualification hopes alive.

     

    Sato remains confident that the squad still has the mentality needed for the challenge ahead.

    “We still have a chance to qualify, we will never give up, we’ll show our spirit, our mentality. We’re gonna go there to win the game, we are not done yet,” Sato said.

     

    “We’re gonna give everything for us, for the people, and for the country to take three points from there and we will see,” Sato added.

     

    The defeat left the Philippines in fourth place in Group B, behind Thailand, which remained at the top with nine points. Myanmar and Malaysia currently occupy second and third spots, respectively, with six points each.

     

    Myanmar holds the advantage in the standings due to a stronger goal difference, carrying a plus-7 mark compared to Malaysia’s plus-3.

     

    Myanmar boosted its semifinal chances earlier in the day after dominating Laos with a 7-2 victory, securing its second win of the tournament.

     

    With qualification hanging in the balance, the Philippines now faces a must-fight situation in Malaysia, where the national team will look to prove that its campaign is far from over.

     

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  • Philippines left with slim ASEAN Hyundai Cup hopes after late Thailand heartbreak 

    Philippines left with slim ASEAN Hyundai Cup hopes after late Thailand heartbreak 

    The equation has become far more difficult for the Philippine Men’s National Football Team.

     

    A match that looked destined to end in a valuable draw instead turned into another painful defeat after Thailand struck late, leaving the Philippines with virtually no room for error in the race for the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026 semifinals.

     

    The hosts absorbed a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to the seven-time champions on Tuesday night before 2,786 spectators at the New Clark City Stadium in Tarlac, dropping to fourth place in Group B with only one match left to play.

     

    For more than 80 minutes, the Philippines stood toe-to-toe with one of Southeast Asia’s football powerhouses, frustrating the War Elephants with disciplined defending while searching for a breakthrough of their own.

     

    But Thailand eventually found the moment it needed.

     

    Right-back Waris Choolthong rose highest in the 84th minute to head home the lone goal of the contest, breaking the deadlock and extending the visitors’ perfect campaign.

     

    The Philippines nearly found itself chasing an even bigger deficit afterward, but goalkeeper Patrick Deyto kept the match within reach with several crucial saves to deny Thailand a second goal.

     

    Unfortunately for the home side, the equalizer never came.

     

    Gavin Muens and Javier Mariona both showed flashes in the opening half, yet neither managed to seriously trouble the Thai defense as the Philippines struggled to convert promising attacks into quality chances.

     

    The result pushed Thailand to nine points after three consecutive victories, putting the War Elephants on the brink of another semifinal appearance.

     

    Meanwhile, the Philippines remained on three points after suffering its second defeat of the tournament.

     

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    Myanmar strengthened its own semifinal bid earlier in the day by routing Laos, 7-2, climbing to six points with a superior goal difference over Malaysia, which also sits on six points.

     

    That leaves the Philippines facing a daunting scenario entering the final matchday.

     

    The Filipinos must defeat Malaysia by at least five goals on Saturday at KLFA Stadium in Kuala Lumpur while also hoping Thailand defeats Myanmar in Bangkok to keep their knockout-stage dream alive.

     

    Despite the uphill climb, head coach Carles Cuadrat refused to dwell on what could have been, believing his squad deserved more from its performance against the region’s most decorated team.

     

    “Unfortunately, we didn’t get the first goal,” said coach Carles Cuadrat. “The one who scores first has a lot of options to make the game for the team. It’s sad that the guys didn’t get their reward of at least one point because with one point, then you can go to Malaysia to repeat what happened in the last Mitsubishi Cup when it was a must-win match in Malaysia and the team got that so it would be the same for us to get a must-win match in Malaysia to get the qualification.”

     

    The road to the semifinals has narrowed dramatically for the Philippines.

     

    Now, only a convincing victory in Malaysia—and help from Thailand—can keep the country’s ASEAN Hyundai Cup campaign alive.

     

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  • Philippines braces for Thailand rematch as ASEAN Hyundai Cup semifinal hopes hang in balance

    Philippines braces for Thailand rematch as ASEAN Hyundai Cup semifinal hopes hang in balance

    History gave the Philippine men’s football team a moment to cherish.

     

    Now, it presents another opportunity—and an even bigger challenge.

     

    When the Philippines welcomes regional powerhouse Thailand to the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac on Tuesday, it won’t simply be another group-stage fixture in the 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup. It will be a rematch carrying the weight of history, revenge, and a potential semifinal berth.

     

    The last time the War Elephants visited Philippine soil, they left stunned.

     

    Kike Linares’ dramatic stoppage-time winner lifted the Filipinos to a memorable 2-1 victory in the first leg of the 2024 ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup semifinals, ending a 52-year wait for a win over Thailand.

     

    Although Thailand recovered with a 3-1 victory in Bangkok to advance to the final, that loss remains one of the biggest upsets in recent Southeast Asian football—a result neither side has forgotten.

     

    Philippine head coach Carles Cuadrat expects that memory to fuel an even hungrier Thai squad.

     

    “It would be an interesting match,” said Philippines head coach Carles Cuadrat during the prematch press conference on Monday. “We know that Thailand, it’s a tough opponent.”

     

    “We know that last time they visit the Philippines, they lost the game. It hasn’t happened in more than 50 years so I guess they learned a lesson and they don’t want another loss. We know that it’s going to be a difficult game but we are preparing the team for that,” he continued.

     

    Thailand enters the match in control of Group B after winning its opening two matches and knows another victory would put one foot into the semifinals.

     

    For the Philippines, however, the stakes are even greater.

     

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    After suffering a disappointing 4-1 defeat to Myanmar in their opening assignment, the Filipinos revived their campaign by beating Laos, 4-1, in Vientiane last Saturday. Despite conceding an early goal, the team showed composure to score four unanswered goals and keep its knockout hopes alive.

     

    That victory moved the Philippines level with Myanmar on three points, but inferior goal difference leaves the home side sitting fourth in the standings. Malaysia currently occupies second place after winning its first two matches, making Tuesday’s showdown a virtual must-win for Cuadrat’s men.

     

    Fortunately for the Filipinos, one member of the squad has firsthand experience of what it takes to beat Thailand.

     

    Midfielder Javier Mariona was part of the historic side that celebrated in Rizal nearly two years ago, and he believes the team can produce another memorable night.

     

    “We are confident,” Mariona said. “Going into that game back at home in Rizal, we know we had a chance and we proved that that chance was enough to come away with three points. We are very excited to host Thailand again, and hopefully, get another result just like in Rizal,”

    Playing at home could once again provide the boost the Philippines needs.

     

    The atmosphere that helped inspire the historic victory in 2024 is expected to return in Capas, where the Filipinos hope another packed home crowd can help unsettle one of Southeast Asia’s most successful football nations.

     

    Thailand may arrive seeking revenge.

     

    The Philippines, meanwhile, is chasing something even bigger—a victory that could redefine its ASEAN Hyundai Cup campaign and keep its semifinal dream very much alive.

     

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  • Jarvey Gayoso calls on young Azkals to bounce back after tough ASEAN Cup start

    Jarvey Gayoso calls on young Azkals to bounce back after tough ASEAN Cup start

    The Philippine men’s national football team endured a difficult start to its ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026 campaign after suffering a disappointing 4-1 defeat to Myanmar at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac, on Tuesday, July 28.

     

    Playing in front of the home crowd, the young Azkals squad struggled to find its rhythm against a determined Myanmar side, with Jarvey Gayoso providing the lone bright spot for the Philippines after scoring their only goal of the match.

     

    Despite the heavy defeat, Gayoso believes the setback can serve as a valuable learning experience for a young national team that is still building chemistry and gaining international exposure. The versatile winger admitted that the result was difficult to accept but stressed the importance of responding positively and using the loss as motivation moving forward.

     

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    “It’s hard to accept, I think for the entire team, that we didn’t play to the standards that we wanted and we expected from ourselves and each other. But it’s a test of character. We have a lot of young guys who will go through a lot of experiences like this. And we have proven it before with the last campaign. I think this will be a good lesson for everybody. We just got to take it on the chin and pick ourselves up,” Gayoso said in a media interaction.

     

    Rather than dwelling on the disappointing result, the 29-year-old forward called on his teammates to remain focused and use the experience as an opportunity for improvement. Gayoso emphasized that the team still has confidence in its ability and believes the young players have the talent to bounce back.

    “It’s difficult because there are different personalities and different mindsets. But it all comes from wanting to win and wanting to do our best. And that’s where I draw from this situation, how I react. And just telling them, let this be an opportunity to reflect and to be able to bounce back,” Gayoso said.

     

    “Because the talent is there. Everybody knows how to play really good football. And we believe in this team. So from here, it’s just taking these lessons and taking these errors we have done and being able to adjust in the next game,” he added.

     

    The Philippines entered the ASEAN Hyundai Cup with a relatively inexperienced squad, with several young players being given the opportunity to represent the national team on the regional stage. Only a handful of players from the side that defeated Myanmar, 5-1, in a friendly match last month were retained for the tournament.

     

    The squad has also been affected by the absence of several key players, including Gerrit Holtmann, Raphael Obermair, and Bjorn Kristensen, among others, as the ASEAN Cup does not fall under the FIFA international window. Their unavailability forced the national team to rely on a younger pool of players as it begins its campaign.

     

    With limited time to recover and prepare, Gayoso acknowledged the importance of quickly moving forward as the Philippines looks to keep its tournament hopes alive.

     

    “We have three more games. There’s not a lot of time to do it. These games are back to back and we are gonna be flying soon. So focus has to be on recovery and adjusting and being able to pick ourselves up. To stay positive and to stay united,” Gayoso concluded.

     

    The defeat left the Philippines in fourth place in Group B, putting added pressure on the team to secure points in its remaining matches. The Azkals will look to bounce back and claim their first victory of the competition when they face Laos at the Laos National Stadium on Saturday, August 1.

     

    With a young squad still gaining valuable experience, the Philippines hopes its difficult opening match will serve as a turning point as it continues its ASEAN Hyundai Cup campaign.

     

     

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  • Philippines’ unbeaten run ends as Myanmar spoils ASEAN Hyundai Cup opener 

    Philippines’ unbeaten run ends as Myanmar spoils ASEAN Hyundai Cup opener 

    The Philippine Men’s Football Team entered the 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup carrying momentum from an eight-match unbeaten run. 


    By the final whistle on Tuesday at the New Clark City Stadium, that confidence had been halted by a clinical Myanmar side that capitalized on every opportunity to claim a 4-1 victory in their Group B opener.

     

    The loss not only snapped the Philippines’ unbeaten streak but also marked the first defeat under head coach Carles Cuadrat since he took charge last year. 

     

    It was also the national team’s first setback since bowing to Thailand in the semifinals of the 2024 tournament.

     

    Myanmar wasted little time asserting itself. Kyaw Min Oo struck in just the seventh minute to put the visitors ahead before Than Paing doubled the advantage in the 28th minute, leaving the Philippines chasing the match before halftime.

     

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    Searching for a spark after the break, the Filipinos created chances to cut into the deficit. Cole Mrowka came close in the 55th minute, but his attempt drifted off target, while Kenshi Nioka’s follow-up also failed to find the net.

     

    Persistence finally paid off in the 68th minute when Jarvey Gayoso scored to pull the Philippines within 2-1, giving the home side renewed belief that a comeback was possible.

     

    Instead, defensive mistakes proved decisive. Win Naing Tun restored Myanmar’s two-goal cushion in the 81st minute with a well-timed header before Than Paing struck again just two minutes later, taking advantage of another Philippine defensive lapse to complete the 4-1 result.

     

    Despite sitting 23 places below the Philippines in the latest FIFA World Rankings, Myanmar displayed composure throughout the match and made the most of its chances to secure all three points.

     

    The victory lifted Myanmar to second place in the five-team Group B standings, while the Philippines slipped to fourth pending the outcome of Tuesday’s match between Malaysia and Laos.

     

    With the opening setback behind them, the Filipinos now turn their attention to a quick response as they travel to the New Laos National Stadium to face Laos on Saturday, August 1, in a match that could prove crucial to their hopes of advancing from the group stage.

     

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  • Carles Cuadrat trusts young Philippine squad ahead of ASEAN Hyundai Cup opener

    Carles Cuadrat trusts young Philippine squad ahead of ASEAN Hyundai Cup opener

    The Philippine men’s national football team is set to begin its ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026 campaign on Tuesday, July 28, as the Young Azkals take on Myanmar in their Group B opener at New Clark City.

     

    Led by Spanish head coach Carles Cuadrat, the Philippines enters the regional tournament with renewed optimism after an encouraging run of performances in recent months. Although the squad features several promising young talents, Cuadrat believes his players are ready to embrace the challenge of competing against some of Southeast Asia’s strongest football nations.

     

    The Philippines heads into the tournament after recording an emphatic 5-1 victory over Myanmar in an international friendly in June. However, Cuadrat insists that result offers little advantage heading into Tuesday’s encounter, particularly with Myanmar now under the guidance of new head coach Jorn Andersen.

     

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    Speaking during the pre-match press conference, Cuadrat acknowledged that Myanmar has undergone tactical changes under its new manager but noted that much of the squad remains familiar to his coaching staff.

     

    “We have analysed the opposition. Myanmar’s new coach has introduced some different ideas, but the core group of players is quite similar to the team we faced previously. We can therefore draw on that experience,” Cuadrat said.

     

    While confident in his team’s preparations, the former FC Barcelona assistant highlighted that this Philippine squad is even younger than the one that competed in the recent Tri-Nations Tournament.

    “We will field an even younger team than the one that played in the Tri-Nations tournament. At that time, we had experienced players such as Randy Schneider and Patrick Reichelt helping the group,” he said.

     

    The youthful composition of the squad is one of the defining features of the Philippines’ campaign, with Cuadrat revealing that only two players on the roster are over the age of 30.

     

    “We now have only two players over the age of 30, while the rest of the squad is very young. It will be a good test for us. The players have trained very well and understand the ideas we want to implement on the pitch. We hope to produce a good performance,” he added.

     

    Despite the inexperience of several members of the squad, Cuadrat believes the team’s energy, discipline, and willingness to learn can help offset the lack of veteran presence as the Philippines seeks a positive start to the competition.

     

    The Philippines and Myanmar share a long-standing rivalry in Southeast Asian football, having met nine times over the history of the regional championship. Their most recent meeting in the tournament came in 2024 and ended in a draw, while the June friendly demonstrated the attacking quality the Filipinos are capable of producing. Nevertheless, Cuadrat expects a much tougher challenge this time around given Myanmar’s tactical evolution under Andersen.

     

    The opening fixture could prove crucial in shaping the Philippines’ hopes of advancing from a highly competitive Group B, which also features regional heavyweights Thailand and Malaysia, as well as Laos. Every point will be valuable in the race for a place in the knockout stage, making a winning start all the more important.

     

    For the Young Azkals, the ASEAN Hyundai Cup represents another opportunity to continue the development of a new generation of Filipino footballers while competing against the region’s best. 

     

    With a youthful squad eager to make its mark and a coach confident in the team’s preparation, the Philippines will be aiming to open its campaign with a statement victory before turning its attention to the remaining group-stage fixtures.

     

     

     

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