Philippine Newspaper Exclaims About the Miracle of Defeating Vietnam National Team

By defeating Vietnam to claim the historic SEA Games gold, Philippine football confidently declares a new position and the goal to lead Southeast Asia.

Philippine football closed the recent SEA Games with special pride, as the country's women's team secured their first-ever gold medal in history. More than just a title, this marks a significant milestone reflecting a major shift for Philippine football in the regional competition.

ABS-CBN quoted the President of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF), John Gutierrez, emphasizing that this victory signifies a declaration of a new status: “This SEA Games proves that Philippine football is no longer here just to participate – we are here to win and earn respect.” The biggest highlight was defeating the Vietnamese women's team in the final.

According to PFF, Filipinas’ championship journey clearly demonstrates comprehensive growth. They overcame the host nation in a tense semifinal before defeating the Vietnamese women's team - a team that had won four consecutive titles - to reach the pinnacle of glory.

PFF Secretary General and women's team head Gelix Mercader emotionally stated: “This gold belongs to all players who played with pride, courage, and sacrifice. Awarding medals to 23 players was an incredibly special moment.” Philippine media highlighted “The victory over Vietnam is regarded as a historic milestone.”

Not only women's football, but the Philippines also takes pride in the U22 men's team reaching the semifinals for the first time in over 30 years, while the women's futsal team returned to the regional stage with an encouraging performance. Together, they paint a picture of strong football development in the country.

Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick Gregorio affirmed: “SEA Games 2025 showed that the Philippines can now win in sports once considered out of reach – especially football.” With the victory over the Vietnamese women's team, the Philippines believes they have truly entered the new power group in the region.