2024 Philippines Football League

The 2024 Philippines Football League will be the sixth season of Philippines Football League (PFL), the professional football league of the Philippines. The PFL was previously under the sponsorship of Qatar Airways, though it is unclear whether or not the sponsorship will be renewed. The league will take place after the conclusion of the 2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara in November 2023, and will serve as a preview for some teams looking to enter the league and also as a way for the Philippine Football Federation to reorganize the Philippine football pyramid. Kaya–Iloilo are the defending champions.

Philippines Football League
Season2024
DatesFebruary 2024 – TBD[1]
2025 →

Though the Philippine Football Federation and Liga Futbol Inc. had initially planned for the league season to be inter-year like the 2022–23 season, but later on decided on shifting the season back to an intra-year format, with the season starting in February. Due to the sudden withdrawals of the Azkals Development Team and United City at the tail-end of the previous season, the league would use the 2023 edition of the Copa Paulino Alcantara as a way to invite new teams, looking to increase the number of teams in the league from the current 5 to a number ranging from 10 to 12, the highest ever in the PFL.[1]

Every PFL season since 2018 consisted of a round-robin format after which the table topper would be crowned champions, but this season would mark the first change in the league format since 2017, with each team playing each other twice before a second round would split the league table into two (similar to the format of the Scottish Premiership), where teams would play the teams in their bracket once more. After the conclusion of those matches, the top eight teams overall would advance to a finals series consisting of two-legged quarter- and semi-final ties, after which a champion would be crowned in the final. It is still uncertain as to which team qualifies for AFC competitions such as the AFC Cup.

Unlike previous seasons which remained mostly home and away, the 2024 season would see matches played according to the economic capabilities of each club to allow for more sustainability. Though clubs may still play home and away matches, the league would also use a "hybrid home-and-away format" which will see more matches played at centralized venues to alleviate costs.[1]

Format changes

Teams

Personnel and kits
Team Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Sponsors
Dynamic Herb Cebu United States Joshua Schirmer Philippines Nathanael Villanueva Philippines RAD Apparel WinZir1, Leylam2, Beko3, PlayerData4, Pocari Sweat, Cebu Pacific
Kaya–Iloilo Northern Ireland Colum Curtis Philippines Jovin Bedic Indonesia RIORS LBC1, Fitogether2, ICanServe4, Peakform, Pretty Huge
Maharlika Manila Philippines David Basa United States Tyler John United States Equipt Studios[2] AIA1, Palaro2, Elan Vita3, SportsPlus
Mendiola 1991 Philippines Joel Villarino Philippines Jim Ashley Flores Philippines Ropa Vill-Mell Trading, Jon Enterprises, Thunderbird Feed, Best Diagnostic
Stallion Laguna Philippines Ernest Nierras Philippines Matthew Nierras Philippines Blaze Giligan's Restaurant1, Airlock3892, South Coast Industrial Door3, Pi Tracer

Notes:

  1. ^ Located on the front of the shirt.
  2. ^ Located on the back of the shirt.
  3. ^ Located on the sleeves.
  4. ^ Located on the shorts.

Coaching changes
Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming coach Date of appointment
Kaya–Iloilo Japan Yu Hoshide Demoted to assistant coach August 5, 2023 Pre-season Northern Ireland Colum Curtis August 5, 2023
Dynamic Herb Cebu Turkey Mehmet Kakil[3] Mutual Consent July 16, 2023 Pre-season United States Joshua Schirmer August 9, 2023
Maharlika Manila Philippines Roxy Dorlas Appointed head coach of Loyola July 16, 2023 Pre-season Philippines David Basa August 12, 2023

Foreign players

A maximum of six foreigners are allowed per club, with five players of any nationality and a sixth coming from an AFC member nation. This is in line with the upcoming AFC regulations that allow for more foreigners to be signed by clubs. However, only 4 foreign players can be registered in the starting 11 during a matchday, with one of them being from an AFC member nation. A further two foreign substitutes may be placed on the bench.[4]

Player is from an AFC country

Players name in bold indicates the player was registered during the mid-season transfer window.

Club Players Former players1
Dynamic Herb Cebu Japan Rintaro Hama Japan Ken Murayama Japan Ryo Togashi Turkey Arda Çınkır Turkey Göktuğ Demiroğlu Ivory Coast Marius Kore
Kaya–Iloilo Japan Daizo Horikoshi[5] Japan Akito Saito Cameroon Henri Bandeken Senegal Robert Lopez Mendy Argentina Ricardo Sendra Senegal Abou Sy
Maharlika Manila Morocco Soufiane Bouazzaoui The Gambia Ousman Jeng United States Tyler John Cameroon Boris Moundang Senegal Ibrahima Ndour
Mendiola 1991[6] Iran Milad Behgandom Lebanon Ali Ghamloush Iran Hamed Hajimehdi Cameroon Junior Ngong Sam
Stallion Laguna Japan Reo Nakamura Japan Yuta Nomura United States Kraig Bonanken Argentina Cristian Ivanobski United States Abraham Placito[7] Mexico Juan Trujillo

Season statistics

Awards

These are the following awards that would be awarded after the season concludes.

Award Winner Club
Golden Ball TBD
Golden Boot
Golden Glove

References
  1. "Expanded Philippines Football League Season 2024 eyes February kickoff". pfl.org.ph. October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  2. "MAHARLIKA MANILA FC AND EQUIPT STUDIOS ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP". equiptstudios.com. Kaya FC-Iloilo. March 11, 2022. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  3. https://www.goal.com/tr/haber/asya-yi-fetheden-turk-teknik-direktor-mehmet-kakil-teklif-bekliyor/blt8d49623068e16864
  4. "Philippines Football League Season 2022-2023 kicks off". pfl.org.ph. August 5, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  5. "Kaya FC-Iloilo's 2021 Squad is Taking Shape – Kaya FC–Iloilo". Kaya F.C. March 11, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  6. "Mendiola '91 marks 30th anniversary with breakthrough". Tiebreaker Times. November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  7. "WTHAW EXCLUSIVE: Stallion-Laguna FC - Signings unveiled, Copa Paulino Alcantara, Coach Ernie Nierras". YouTube. Mendiola FC 1991. March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
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