The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has secured $3.6 million in funding to boost football infrastructure development across the country, with plans to build 20 all-weather soccer pitches nationwide.
PFF president John Gutierrez said the funding was granted following the Philippines’ successful hosting of the 2025 FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup last December. He has already informed Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick Gregorio of the support, which came from FIFA and other international football bodies.
“We can create more infrastructure, but we need land to build the pitches. They will provide the infrastructure if we can provide the land,” Gutierrez said in a briefing with reporters.
The funding was consolidated after meetings with FIFA president Gianni Infantino during his visit to Manila for the Women’s World Cup, as well as discussions with leaders of the Asian Football Federation and the Asian Football Confederation in recent months.
One pitch has already been completed in Balanga City, Bataan, earlier this month. More are planned, with the target of completing 20 pitches by the end of 2026 and expanding to 50 pitches nationwide by 2027.
Gregorio said the PSC will work with the Department of Education and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) to identify campuses with available land for pitch development.
“We are coordinating with DepEd and the SUCs because they have thousands of hectares of land available,” he said.
Gutierrez added that another pitch is set to be built in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, this February.
Earlier this month, FIFA officials also led the inauguration of the country’s first FIFA Arena in Barangay Bagumbayan, Bataan.
