14 July 2025, Singapore – The Philippine Under-16 Boys National Football Team made history on Sunday evening, 13 July, after emerging as champions of the 2025 Lion City Cup held at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore.

The young squad clinched the title after finishing the tournament with two wins and one draw, garnering a total of seven (7) points to top the four-nation standings. The final result was confirmed after host country Singapore defeated Hong Kong 4-1 in the closing match.

The Philippines opened their campaign with a hard-earned 2-0 win against Singapore on 09 July, followed by a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Hong Kong on 11 July. In their final match yesterday, 13 July, the team overcame an early deficit to secure a 3-1 victory over Cambodia, sealing their spot at the top of the table. 

This triumph marks the Philippines’ first-ever Lion City Cup championship title since the tournament’s revival in 2013. The squad was composed of players from various regional football associations including the National Capital Region, Zamboanga del Norte, Central Visayas, Laguna, Negros Occidental, and Davao. 

Guided by Head Coach Tetsuya Tsuchida, the team displayed discipline, unity, and unwavering determination throughout the tournament. “The players gave everything to get these results. This victory belongs to all of them and to Philippine football,” said Coach Tsuchida. 

The Lion City Cup is one of Asia’s longest-running youth football tournaments and featured teams from the Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, and Hong Kong in this year’s edition.

The Philippine Embassy in Singapore congratulates the U16 Boys National Team for this significant achievement and encourages the Filipino community to continue supporting the future of Philippine football. /END