The Philippines has called up 26 players to prepare for the match against Vietnam in the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup, most notably goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.
Neil Etheridge belongs to Birmingham City FC in the English First Division. The goalkeeper born in 1990 grew up at Chelsea Academy and then Fulham, but is mainly known in the English First, Second and Third Divisions when playing for Charlton Athletic, Bristol Rovers, Oldham Athletic, Walsall.
In the 2017-2018 season, Etheridge and Cardiff City won the First Division to play in the Premier League. The Filipino goalkeeper played all 38 matches but could not help his team stay in the league. From the 2020-2021 season, he moved to Birmingham City, but from the 2022-2023 season, he lost his official position to veteran goalkeeper John Ruddy.
Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge of the Philippines team. Photo: PFF
Neil Etheridge has been playing for the Philippines national team since 2008 and has played 76 matches. He was part of the squad that beat Vietnam 2-0 in the 2010 AFF Cup group stage, helping the Philippines enter the top 4 for the first time. In June 2019, Etheridge was valued at 8 million euros (about 208 billion VND) by the transfer statistics site Transfermakt, becoming the most valuable Southeast Asian player in history.
In addition to Etheridge, the Philippines called up young talent Santiago Rublico, born in 2005 in Spain, whose parents are Filipino. He joined the Atletico Madrid academy at the age of six and is currently on the U19 team as a right-back.
Rublico was first called up to the Philippine national team in the March 2023 training camp, playing his debut match in a 0-2 loss to Kuwait. A month later, Rublico was again called up to the Philippine U22 team to compete in the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia. He played in all four matches but could not help the Philippines advance past the group stage.
The Philippines is led by coach Michael Weiss (red shirt) - who led Laos in 2022 and 2023. Photo: PFF
The Philippines squad for the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers only has six players playing in their home country. Many veteran and familiar players in Southeast Asia were also called up such as defender Carli De Murga, Daisuke Sato, midfielder Kevin Ingreso, brothers Mike Ott, Manny Ott, strikers Stephan Schrock, Patrick Reichelt and Bienvenido Maranon.
German coach Michael Weiss said the squad has a good mix of experienced players and young talent. "We have reason to be optimistic about the 2026 World Cup qualifiers," Weiss said on the Philippine Football Federation's website.
However, the Philippines also lacks many players playing in Europe due to injury, such as defender Michael Kempter (Grasshopper, Switzerland), midfielder Raphael Obermair (SC Paderborn, Germany), John Patrick Strauss (Hansa Rostock, Germany), striker Gerrit Holtmann (Antalyspor, Türkiye), Sebastian Rasmussen (Hobro, Denmark).
The Philippines has a week to prepare for the opening match against Vietnam on November 16, then visit Indonesia on November 21.
Head-to-head history shows Vietnam winning nine, drawing one and losing two against the Philippines. The most recent match Vietnam won 1-0 was a friendly match before the AFF Cup 2022.
Under coach Philippie Troussier, Vietnam played friendly matches with the results of three wins, three losses, with the most recent match losing to South Korea 0-6. Meanwhile, under Michael Weiss, the Philippines played friendly matches with the results of three wins, one draw, and four losses, with the most recent match losing to Bahrain 0-1.
List of Philippine team
Goalkeepers (3): Neil Etheridge (Birmingham City), Kevin Ray Mendoza (Kuala Lumpur FC), Patrick Deyto (Chonburi FC)
Defenders (10): Carli De Murga (Barito Putera), Jefferson Tabinas (Mito Hollyhock), Christian Rontini (Persita Tangerang), Jessse Curran (Ratchaburi FC), Daisuke Sato (Persib Bandung), Santiago Rublico (U19 Atletico Madrid), Dennis Villanueva (Police Tero), Simen Lyngbo (Persik Kediri), Audie Menzi, Simone Rota (Kaya FC-Iloilo)
Midfielders (8): Justin Baas, Marwin Angeles, Jesus Melliza (Kaya FC-Iloilo), Oskari Kekkonen (Lamphun Warrior), Pocholo Bugas (Angkor Tiger), Manny Ott (Kedah Darul Aman), Mike Ott (Barito Putera), Kevin Ingreso (Sri Pahang FC)
Forwards (5): Patrick Reichelt (Kuala Lumpur FC), Bienvenido Maranon (Chanthaburi FC), Kenshiro Daniels (Rans Nusantara), OJ Porteria (Kelantan United), Stephan Schrock (Club De Futbol Manila).
Hieu Luong
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