As the Philippine men’s football team is in the final phase of preparation for the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup, it learned on Monday that the path towards the Asian Cup in 2027 could be a favorable one.

The national squad was drawn in Group A of the continental tournament’s final round of qualification which starts in March against a familiar opponent in Tajikistan, Maldives and Southeast Asia lightweight Timor-Leste.

It must top the group that will see six matches across five international windows between March 2025 to March 2026 in order to get to the Asian Cup for the first time since its maiden appearance in 2019.

Article continues after this advertisement

But the Filipinos will need to build on the silver linings of the past few months despite posting just one win in the last 12 matches.

The Philippines lost to Tajikistan on penalties in the third-place match of the Merdeka Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, before posting a victory over the same country at the King’s Cup in Thailand, when the latter fielded mostly of players from the youth side.

Maldives last faced the Philippines in 2021 at the World Cup/Asian Cup Qualifiers in United Arab Emirates, a game that resulted in a 1-1 draw, while expectations are that Timor-Leste will be easily beaten as evident with its struggles to open the Mitsubishi Electric Cup.

Article continues after this advertisement

Timor-Leste lost, 10-0, to reigning titleholder Thailand last Sunday.

The Philippines is expected to have most, if not all, of its main players for the qualifying windows unlike in the Asean tournament since they are scheduled during Fifa dates which will require players to be released for national duty. INQ