Similar to the case of Morocco, Cape Verde provides important lessons for the Philippines in developing a strong football culture. Despite the almost impossible task of displacing basketball as the national sport, we must do everything possible to make football the leading grassroots sport—especially in the countryside among lower-income households. Developing football in elite schools like Ateneo, La Salle, and even U.P. will lead nowhere because, with few exceptions, graduates of these institutions rarely consider playing professional football as part of their career plans.

Cape Verde successfully made football the country’s most popular sport. Children play everywhere: in schools, neighborhoods, beaches, and small community pitches. It matters little if children are taught to play futsal first, which can be played literally anywhere. By the time talented players transition to organized football, they have already developed excellent technical skills that are equally applicable to the full pitch. The Philippines can simply encourage children to play football in schools, parks, and barangays alongside basketball.

It is wise to invest in coaches before investing in stadia or equivalent physical facilities. Cape Verde has relatively modest infrastructure, but it invested heavily in qualified coaches who teach proper technique and tactics. Countries that develop well-trained youth coaches generally produce better players than those that focus mainly on building large stadiums.

To be realistic, the task of producing youth coaches should be spearheaded by business, civil society, private schools, and church communities (especially Catholic parish-based initiatives), given that the Philippine Government already has its hands full improving governance, eradicating poverty, and investing in quality public education. Unfortunately, our national and local governments suffer in comparison with the governments of Morocco and Cape Verde in terms of effectiveness and good governance.

Like Morocco, Cape Verde knew how to harness its diaspora—a group that pales in comparison to our more than 10 million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Many of Cape Verde's national team players were born or trained in Portugal, France, the Netherlands, and other European countries. The football federation actively recruited these players and inspired them to represent the country of their parents or grandparents.

We have already experimented with this approach, notably with the Younghusband brothers. We have applied it even more successfully to the National Women’s Football team, the Filipinas, who have qualified for two Women’s World Cups. However, we can do much more. Given our much larger overseas community, many young Filipinos in Europe, North America, Australia, and Japan are currently training in professional academies. Systematically identifying and inviting them to represent the Philippines could significantly strengthen our national team.

From my own personal experience as a Visiting Professor at IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain, I learned of a district called El Raval. It has a high concentration of Filipino immigrants whose sons are being coached in football through initiatives organized by NGOs and the local Catholic parish. We can send scouts to various European cities with similar programs for children of Filipino immigrants.

We can also follow Cape Verde's example by building a clear football identity. This small African nation is known for its excellent defensive organization, quick counterattacks, high work rate, and strong team spirit; every player thoroughly understands the system. I surmise that the Filipino youth being trained in El Raval are exposed to the playing style of FC Barcelona, the Spanish League champions over the last two seasons (much to the dismay of Real Madrid, despite their heavy investment in Mbappé).

That tactical style was famously described by football commentator Simon Kuper in his Financial Times column as "the best defense is possession." This approach was on full display in the final match against Argentina, where my football idol—the GOAT, Lionel Messi—was completely neutralized. I was saddened, however, to see him join his teammates in acting like poor losers during the awarding ceremonies.

A major reason for Cape Verde's success is that its football federation has been relatively stable and professionally managed, prioritizing long-term planning over short-term fixes. In this regard, I intend to mobilize experts in long-term strategic planning from the private corporate sector to assist stakeholders in formulating a strategic plan extending beyond the 2030 World Cup.

The core components of this strategic plan will draw directly from the shared characteristics of Morocco, Cape Verde, and Croatia (another small nation with a world-class team): a nationwide football culture, excellent youth coaching, competent long-term administration, and clear pathways from youth development to professional leagues. These factors matter far more than population size alone. For the Philippines, building these foundations over the next two decades will have a much greater impact than hiring any single high-profile coach or making a brief, short-term investment.

If building a world-class national men’s team requires decades, why set a short-term target of qualifying for the 2030 World Cup just four years away? Because we are not starting from scratch. Although Philippine football faces significant structural and cultural challenges, the sport has made notable progress over the past decade in organization, youth development, and the women's game.

Over the last ten years, the country’s football landscape has gathered several key strengths. First, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has shifted focus toward long-term player development rather than relying almost exclusively on overseas-based talent, expanding youth academies, talent identification, and regional competitions. Second, grassroots football is growing through programs like FIFA Football for Schools, Centers of Excellence, and regional youth championships for U16 and U19 players, reaching children across the archipelago. Third, the domestic Philippines Football League (PFL) has stabilized compared to past years, providing regular competition for around 275 professional and semi-professional players. Finally, women’s football—including at the University of Asia and the Pacific, where I teach—has become one of the country’s biggest success stories, with the Filipinas qualifying for two FIFA Women’s World Cups and inspiring countless young girls to take up the sport.

In a SWOT analysis, however, several weaknesses stand out. Football remains far from a mainstream sport, as basketball overwhelmingly dominates public interest, media coverage, and corporate sponsorship. There is also a severe shortage of pitches; many schools lack proper facilities, forcing football to compete for space, particularly against futsal. An exception in Metro Manila is PAREF Southridge School for boys, which boasts an ultra-modern football field that professional clubs rent, and whose high school team—alongside Claret School—is even permitted to compete in the collegiate UAAP league. Furthermore, the professional ecosystem remains weak, with the PFL having relatively few clubs, modest attendance, and limited commercial revenue compared to counterpart leagues in Thailand and Vietnam. Lastly, while Cape Verde, Morocco, and Croatia have succeeded by leaning heavily on diaspora talent, the Philippines—with a population close to 120 million and an average age of 26—must do better at developing local talent alongside its overseas efforts.