The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation has committed PHP5m ($86,177) in financial support to the Philippine Women’s National Football Team ahead of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia.
The funding will be distributed through the Philippine Football Federation and is intended to support preparation costs, including training camps and international friendly matches.
The tournament will run from March 1 to March 21 and features leading women’s teams from across Asia.
The Filipinas enter the competition following their gold medal win at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, the country’s first in women’s football at the event.
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation Chairman and CEO, Alejandro Tengco, said: “Our athletes carry the Philippine flag onto the world stage and their victories inspire millions of Filipinos.”
Tengco added: “It is only fitting that we provide them with the support they need to train properly and compete at the highest levels.”
The regulator noted that increased remittances to the Philippine Sports Commission following a Supreme Court ruling have expanded available funding for national sports programs.
Philippine Football Federation President John Anthony Gutierrez said: “We are grateful to PAGCOR for stepping up at a crucial time in our preparations.”
Gutierrez added: “Continued support from our partners ensures that our athletes are fully equipped to compete with Asia’s best.”
The federation said participation in the Asian Cup also forms part of qualification pathways toward the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
In January 2026, Tengco confirmed he was preparing a position paper urging the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to review the 2025 e-wallet gambling delinking policy, which reduced PAGCOR revenues by 49%.
The regulator also outlined plans to launch a dedicated responsible gambling hotline network during 2026.
PAGCOR has previously stated it intends to sell its Casino Filipino properties by late 2026 or 2027
