he Philippines’ men’s national football team—still affectionately called the Azkals by many fans—are deep into their AFC Asian Cup 2027™ Qualifiers (Final Round) journey. After a gritty joint World Cup/Asian Cup second round, the team now battles in Group A of the stand-alone Asian Cup qualifiers with a singular objective: finish top of the group to punch a ticket to Saudi Arabia 2027. Only group winners advance—no second chances here—so every home roar and away point matters.
Quick snapshot: The third (final) round of Asian Cup qualification runs across six matchdays—Mar 25, 2025; Jun 10, 2025; Oct 9 & 14, 2025; Nov 18, 2025; and Mar 31, 2026—with four teams per group, home-and-away. Only the six group winners join the 18 teams already qualified via the earlier World Cup/Asian Cup round.
Where the Azkals stand right now
The Philippines are in Group A alongside Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, and Maldives. Through the opening two matchdays, the PMNFT took four points from two matches:
Azkals Philippines 4–1 Maldives — a statement win in Capas, Tarlac, as the home crowd at New Clark City Athletics Stadium watched debutant-driven, front-foot football.
Azkals Philippines 2–2 Tajikistan — a charged draw in Capas, with a brace from Bjørn Martin Kristensen keeping the group tight at the top.
These early results have the Philippines level with Tajikistan on points after Matchday 2, setting up a razor-thin race where home form, goal difference, and discipline could decide the group. (If teams finish level, head-to-head is the first tiebreaker, followed by head-to-head goal difference and goals scored.)
How we got here: From joint qualifiers to the final Asian Cup push
During the Joint FIFA World Cup 2026 & AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers (Second Round), the Philippines drew the short straw in Group F with Iraq, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The PMNFT finished fourth, which didn’t end the Asian Cup dream—it simply rerouted it. Per AFC’s format, teams finishing 3rd and 4th in those groups drop into this final Asian Cup qualifying round for a last shot.
The goal: top Group A—no ifs, no buts
The math is brutally simple: finish first in Group A and you’re in Saudi Arabia 2027. Finish anywhere else and the journey ends here. Each side plays six matches, and with margins this fine, the home-and-away doubleheaders in October and November will be season-defining.
Why the optimism is real
Momentum at home: The PMNFT have already showcased they can turn Capas into a fortress, thumping Maldives and drawing a strong Tajikistan side with the crowd in full voice.
Emerging attackers:Bjørn Martin Kristensen (KFUM Oslo) has quickly become a go-to scorer, delivering a brace versus Tajikistan. Randy Schneider made a dream debut against Maldives with a goal + assist.
Fresh direction in the dugout: After Albert Capellas stepped down in late May, Carles Cuadrat took charge—initially on an interim basis for the June match—and has now been appointed full-time head coach (July 24, 2025). Continuity and clarity at the top should help the group execute a consistent plan through the fall.
The blueprint: what the Azkals must do to qualify
1) Make home games automatic wins
You don’t top a four-team group without maxing out home points. The crowd at New Clark City has already tilted the field; replicating that intensity against every visitor is non-negotiable.
2) Take care of business vs. Maldives & Timor-Leste
Respect every opponent, but the fastest path to first goes through sweeping the fixtures against the lower-ranked sides and avoiding any slip-ups. With one win already banked vs. Maldives, the PMNFT must repeat that clinical edge away and ensure control against Timor-Leste, who have shown bite.
3) Win the mini-series vs. Tajikistan
Assuming both teams keep pace, the head-to-head with Tajikistan becomes decisive. Take four (or more) points from the two meetings, and you control your destiny. (Remember, head-to-head outranks overall goal difference in AFC’s tiebreakers.)
4) Manage the fine print: tiebreakers & discipline
Head-to-head points → head-to-head goal difference → head-to-head goals → overall goal difference → overall goals → fair-play… then lots. Keeping yellow/red cards down isn’t just image—it’s a built-in tiebreaker.
5) Keep the shape tight; strike in waves
Cuadrat-led sides traditionally value structure out of possession and quick, rehearsed patterns in transition. With the PMNFT’s influx of dynamic attackers, bursts of pressure—especially late in halves—can flip matches without overstretching. (Cuadrat’s appointment has been confirmed by PFF.)
The journey so far: lessons from the joint qualifiers
The second-round slog (vs. Iraq, Indonesia, Vietnam) was a harsh classroom, but it hardened the team’s core and accelerated the integration of new faces. That run ended with the Philippines bottom of Group F, while Iraq and Indonesia advanced. The silver lining? A clearer identity, plus the final Asian Cup pathway that the team is now attacking.
Bjørn Martin Kristensen (FW/W): A livewire in the front line whose movement off the shoulder and cold-blooded finishing already changed a game at this level.
Randy Schneider (MF/F): A debut goal and assist vs. Maldives signal a high-ceiling contributor who can create separation on the dribble and serve quality into the box.
The back five (+ GK): Qualification campaigns are usually decided by how few you concede, not how many you score. Keeping clean sheets in October/November will be the biggest predictor of a group win.
Fixtures & calendar checkpoints
Matchday 3 & 4:October 9 & 14, 2025
Matchday 5:November 18, 2025
Matchday 6:March 31, 2026
Exact opponent order and venues are determined by the AFC draw/schedule; mark the windows now, and plan travel and viewing accordingly. Only the group winner goes through—every point in these windows is gold.
About that “Azkals” name…
Officially, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) moved away from using the “Azkals” moniker in February 2024 as part of a fresh chapter for the men’s program. Media and fans still use it in conversation (and in headlines like this) because of its cultural weight and familiarity. For clarity, the federation uses “Philippine Men’s National Football Team (PMNFT)” in formal communications.
What success looks like from here
To turn this campaign into a historic qualification, the PMNFT must:
Hold serve at home—turn Capas (and any additional home venues) into guaranteed points.
Beat the teams you’re expected to beat—especially away to Maldives and Timor-Leste.
Edge the direct rival—collect more head-to-head points vs. Tajikistan.
Stay disciplined—yellow/red cards can cost you via fair-play tiebreakers.
Trust the plan under Cuadrat—embed patterns, manage game states, and finish strong in each half.
Do that, and the road leads to Saudi Arabia 2027.
Be the 12th man of Azkals
Capas was loud. Let’s make it deafening. Share this article with fellow fans, organize watch-parties, and show up in full voice for every home date. Drop your matchday predictions and preferred starting XI in the comments—let’s build the smartest, loudest home-field advantage in Asia.
FAQs: Azkals’ AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers
1) What group are the Philippines in, and who’s in it?
The PMNFT are in Group A with Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, and Maldives in the final Asian Cup qualifying round.
2) What are the Philippines’ results so far?
4–1 vs Maldives (Capas, Mar 25, 2025) 2–2 vs Tajikistan (Capas, Jun 10, 2025) The team sits on 4 points from 2 matches.
3) How do the Philippines qualify for Saudi Arabia 2027?
Win Group A. Only the six group winners across the final round qualify; there are no runner-up slots. Tiebreakers begin with head-to-head.
4) Why are they playing this round—didn’t the earlier qualifiers handle Asian Cup spots?
Yes. In the joint World Cup/Asian Cup second round, the top two in each group qualified automatically for the Asian Cup; 3rd and 4th moved to this final Asian Cup qualifying round. The Philippines finished 4th in their second-round group behind Iraq, Indonesia, and Vietnam, so they’re now on the final-chance path.
5) Who is the current head coach, and what happened to “Azkals”?
As of July 24, 2025, Carles Cuadrat is the full-time head coach. The PFF officially stopped using the “Azkals” moniker in February 2024, but many supporters and media still use it informally.
