Azkals begin quest for World Cup berth in Bangkok

Raring to continue its improvement, the Philippines will expand its talent pool as it prepares for the next cycle of World Cup qualifying beginning in September.

After losing all three matches against higher-ranked opponents in their first AFC Asian Cup appearance in January in the United Arab Emirates, the Azkals are now setting their sights on making a strong push for qualification to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Azkals manager Dan Palami said the road to Qatar begins with a weeklong training camp in Bangkok starting March 18.

Palami said there will be 42 players in the pool with the majority of them newcomers to the Azkals pool.

“The camp gives us an opportunity to really take a closer look at new players who can represent not just the senior team, but also the Under-22 team for the Southeast Asian Games,” said Palami.