PFF eyes Philippine Stadium as Suzuki Cup venue

MANILA, Philippines -  The Philippine Sports Stadium in Bulacan is being eyed as the main venue for next year’s Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup group stage that the country is co-hosting.

According to Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Nonong Araneta, the event’s organizers World Sport Group (WSG) has chosen the 25,000-seater Bocaue stadium as primary site for the group that will feature the Azkals and three other rival nations. 

The decades-old Rizal Memorial Stadium, meanwhile, was tapped as the secondary venue, holding one match in the last day of the group phase.

“We’re in the process of finalizing an agreement with the management of Philippine Stadium, as required by the organizers,” Araneta told The STAR. 

“The organizers want to (have) control of the stadium during the Suzuki Cup and the Philippine Stadium must be in agreement with that.”

If the PFF fails to get the PSS’ nod, Araneta said there’s a possibility the Phl side of the Suzuki Cup would be moved to another country.

“Hopefully, we can host it,” he said.

Myanmar is staging the other group hostilities of Southeast Asia’s football showcase.

The biennial Suzuki Cup served as platform for the Azkals emergence from obscurity. In 2010, the underdog Pinoy booters rocked the established order, upstaging then holders Vietnam en route to a breakthrough semifinal finish. Phl XI repeated the Last-4 appearance in 2012 and 2014.