Football is a poor cousin of American sports, such as basketball and baseball, in the Philippines. Yet, it could have been a force in the Asian football scene if not for a twist in its history.

As early as 1913, Philippines set about creating football history when they organised the first ever Asian international match. Philippines played China in Manila with the host winning the game 2-1. That was the start of a game that would extend to the length and breadth of the
Asian continent.

But a change of guard - the Spanish invaders leaving the islands to the Americans - resulted in the game losing its popularity. Football, thereafter, ended up playing second fiddle to American sports.

As the interest dwindled over the years, the game never quite recovered. But recent developments in the country have raised hopes of football making a strong comeback. This is underlined by their performances in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and Tiger Cup competitions.