The Aboitiz Football Cup, the country’s longest-running grassroots football league, opened its 26th season on July 26 at the Dynamic Herb-Borromeo Sports Complex in Talisay City, Cebu, building on more than two decades of developing young Filipino athletes and expanding a grassroots football platform that now spans Cebu, Batangas, Davao, and Tarlac.

This year’s opening ceremonies put the spotlight on the league’s youngest athletes through the Players 6 and Players 8 divisions, underscoring the importance of introducing children to football at an early age.

Sugbu Calidad Football Club captured the Players 8 championship after defeating SHS-AdC Magis Eagles in the final, while CFC Academy finished third. In the Players 6 division, SHS-AdC Magis Eagles emerged champions, followed by Giuseppe Football Club and CFC Academy.

The tournament drew strong support from the country’s football leadership, with Philippine Football Federation General Secretary Angelico Gelix Mercader joining Cebu Regional Football Association officials Rodney Orale, Jose Guy Ceniza, and Nimrod Quiñonez, alongside Aboitiz leaders and league partners, for the ceremonial kickoff—highlighting the shared commitment of the Philippine football community to advancing grassroots development.

“The Aboitiz Football Cup has always been about creating opportunities for young athletes to grow—not only as football players but as individuals,” said Anton Perdices, Chief Operating Officer for Distribution of Aboitiz Power. “I encourage every player to play with courage, play with discipline, and most importantly, play with respect.”

The Aboitiz Football Cup has evolved from a Cebu-based tournament into a national grassroots platform, creating more opportunities for young Filipino footballers to compete and grow. Earlier this year, it launched the inaugural Aboitiz Football Cup Champions League, bringing together champion teams from Cebu, Batangas, Tarlac, and Davao at the Aboitiz Pitch in Lipa City—the first time champions from its regional tournaments competed on a national stage.

The tournament also continues to promote environmental stewardship through the “Tapon to Ipon” campaign in partnership with Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines. Players, coaches, and supporters are encouraged to recycle clear PET plastic bottles at designated collection points, integrating sustainability into the matchday experience.

“After the World Cup, what better way to deepen your love for football than by supporting local football—and that’s the Aboitiz Football Cup,” said Chad Songalia of the Cebu Regional Football Association.

With matches in Cebu running until the end of the year, the 26th season of the Aboitiz Football Cup will also feature tournament legs in Batangas, Davao and Tarlac, expanding the league’s national footprint and creating more opportunities for young athletes to compete.

‍

‍