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
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's football and futsal squads.
The Filipinas shone brightest, winning a breakthrough gold medal -- the Philippines' first-ever football gold in the SEA Games. Meanwhile, the men's under-22 squad returned to the semifinals for the first time since 1991, and the women's futsal team made a competitive comeback to the biennial meet.
"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," Gutierrez said in a statement, Tuesday.
"From the gold medal of the Filipinas, to the historic semifinals of our men's team, and the fearless women's futsal performances, this is the strongest statement we have ever made as a football nation," 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.
"This gold medal belongs to every single Filipina player who wore the badge with pride, courage, and selflessness throughout this campaign," said PFF General Secretary and PWNT Head of Delegation Gelix Mercader, who awarded the gold medals to the team.
"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's football."
They also praised the Philippine men'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.
"This is the best SEA Games performance for Philippine football," said Gutierrez. "And it happened because our teams believed, our coaches prepared, and our players delivered."
"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," Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick Gregorio said.
"It is the most followed sport in the ASEAN region, and for the Filipinas to win SEA Games gold is a major step forward," he added.