A total of 10 teams from across the country will compete in the 2026 Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Under-19 Boys National Championships in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, from Wednesday to Sunday, April 29 to May 3.
The tournament, which will be held at the Victorias City National High School Football Pitch, will feature teams from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao divided into two groups of five.
Group A includes Laguna Regional Football Association (RFA), Misamis Occidental-Ozamiz FA, Zamboanga del Norte-Dipolog RFA, Soccsksargen RFA, and Mount Apo RFA.
Group B is composed of Cordillera Administrative Region FA, Bohol RFA, Butuan-Agusan del Norte FA, Davao South RFA, and Olongapo City-Zambales FA.
The competition serves as the national group stage for emerging regional teams, where the top three squads from each group will advance to the U19 Elite Division later this year.
They will join pre-qualified teams including the Negros Occidental RFA, National Capital Region FA, Iloilo-Guimaras RFA, and Cebu RFA in the finals round happening later this year.
According to the PFF, the tournament is part of its grassroots development program aimed at strengthening the pipeline of future national team players and providing a high-level platform for young athletes to compete.
Negros Occidental Regional Football Association president Jose Miguel Valmayor said hosting the event in Victorias reflects the province’s continued investment in football development.
Valmayor said major youth tournaments are regularly brought to Negros, with billeting arrangements in Victorias City and nearby facilities to support participating teams.
He added that the competition also serves as a key scouting ground for identifying potential national team players.
Valmayor invited the public to watch the matches, describing the tournament as a high-quality event that highlights both strong competition and organized grassroots football.
Games will be held daily from early morning to afternoon throughout the five-day tournament.
The PFF said the event underscores the growing role of host cities like Victorias in promoting football and developing young talents nationwide.*
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