MANILA — The Asia 7’s Championship 2026 will feature a record 16 clubs from seven countries, doubling its field from two years ago as the international seven-a-side football tournament stages its biggest edition yet from November 26 to 29 at McKinley Hill Stadium in Taguig City.
The four-day competition marks another milestone for the tournament, which has grown fourfold since its inaugural edition featured only four teams, underscoring the rising popularity of seven-a-side football in the region.
Tournament founder and commissioner Anton del Rosario said the fourth edition will feature newcomers from Japan, Hong Kong, Australia and Indonesia, further expanding the championship’s international reach.
“We have some newcomers coming in from Hong Kong, Australia, and then Indonesia. From our past competitions, we started this with only four teams, you know. From four teams, we went to eight, eight went to 12, and now we’re in 16,” del Rosario said.
The former Philippine Azkals standout said the tournament’s expansion reflects growing interest in the shortened football format, which offers clubs a competitive international platform without the logistical demands of traditional 11-a-side football.
Beyond attracting foreign clubs, organizers are banking on the championship’s growing stature to strengthen grassroots football development in the Philippines.
Del Rosario said the league also organizes free youth tournaments to encourage more Filipino children to embrace the sport and develop their skills.
“We love seeing the growth of the sport and we hope to be able to use this to inspire and motivate younger kids to play football in the country,” he said.
The competition also provides opportunities for veteran footballers and players outside established professional clubs to remain competitive, with selection based on ability rather than age or affiliation.
Del Rosario believes seven-a-side football could follow the growing popularity of alternative sports formats such as 3×3 basketball, particularly because of its accessibility and lower operating costs.
“It’s much cheaper too, right? I mean, you don’t have to look for 11 players. You look for seven players. You don’t have to look for a full field,” del Rosario explained.
“You can fit four fields of seven-a-side football and one field of 11-a-side football. So when it comes down to, I guess, being more sustainable, sevens would probably be the way to go,” added the former Philippine Azkals mainstay.
With its largest international field assembled, the Asia 7’s Championship is seeking to cement the Philippines’ position as a regional hub for seven-a-side football while inspiring a new generation of Filipino players./PN
