Tom Saintfiet focused on long-term goals for PH men's football team ahead of Iraq rematch

More than getting a positive result versus Iraq, PH men's football team coach Tom Saintfiet is geared at the long-term development of the team.

Coming in as the new head coach of the Philippine men's national football team, Tom Saintfient was immediately tasked to spearhead the campaign of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup.

With less than a week of training under Saintfient, the 139th-ranked Philippines put up a valiant effort against the 59th-ranked Iraq as they fell short of securing at least a point in Basra.

Center back Amani Aguinaldo is hoping that they can get a better result this time around in front of what is expected to be a jam-packed Rizal Memorial Stadium.

“We conceded a goal in the dying minutes of the game and we don't want that to happen again. So as much as possible we want to keep a clean sheet and hope for the best against Iraq because now, it's a different game, we're not playing against their team and 65,000 fans. We're playing at home with our fans so it's a different game for me,” Aguinaldo said during the pre-match press conference.

[ALSO READ: New PH men's football coach Tom Saintfiet aims to leverage home advantage in key rematch against Iraq]

But even as all eyes are on the Philippines’ crucial rematch versus Iraq to keep their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying hopes alive, Saintfient remains focused on the long-term goal for the country, especially as the tournament also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

“We are developing a team who will be qualifying for the 2027 Asian Cup. In football, it's about goal setting,” said Saintfiet. “If we lose against Iraq, it doesn't mean everything is bad or the previous [one] was bad.”

“We have an aim to develop a team who is ready to qualify, preferably in June. That will be the best if we can get in the top two and we stay in the running of the World Cup,” he added.

[ALSO READ: FIELD GOALS | Ambition fuels a new chapter of Philippine football]

The Belgium tactician even hinted at a “surprise inclusion” for the Philippines-Iraq game, while emphasizing that the players currently in the national team will be the core for future friendlies and tournaments.

“We [are] working to strengthen the team with quality players and to give more options to be very competitive not only in the short term, we also aim for young players, also in the local league,” said Saintfiet. “Expect tomorrow a surprise in the Final 23. I don't want to tell it but in football, it can go fast, being spotted in one game and being in the national team a few weeks later.”

“We are ready to develop the team [with] both local players, ASEAN-based players, and foreign-based players in the coming months and I'm sure that will be good enough to be ready for qualification but even further than that, beyond that, to be competitive on the Asian Cup,” he added.

The Philippines-Iraq match will happen tonight at 7 p.m. at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila which will be aired live on One Sports+.