The 2024 Philippines Football League was the sixth season of the Philippines Football League (PFL), the professional football league of the Philippines. The PFL was previously under the sponsorship title of Qatar Airways. The league saw the participation of 15 teams, the most ever since the league's inception, and was held in a single round-robin format from April 6 to July 14.
The league was originally planned to feature three phases and culminate in a knockout round format to decide the champion, although plans were changed before the competition started. Liga Futbol Inc. used the shortened format where all teams would play each other once. The season start was also delayed. After the success of the expanded 2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara, the PFL relaxed the requirements for new clubs to apply. Aside from the five current PFL teams and the remaining teams from the Copa, the league welcomed Manila Montet and One Taguig, which was initially registered as Taguig City United. The winners and runners-up of the league would qualify for the revised 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two. Kaya–Iloilo, the defending champions, secured their second consecutive title with one match left to play.
Format changes The Philippine Football Federation and Liga Futbol Inc. decided on shifting the season back to an intra-year format, starting in February. Due to the sudden withdrawals of Azkals Development Team and United City at the tail-end of the previous season, the league will be looking to increase the number of teams from 5 to a number ranging up to 16, the highest ever in the PFL.
This season would have marked the first change in the league format since 2017, with each team playing every team twice before a second round would split the league table into two, 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 final series consisting of two-legged quarter- and semi-final ties, after which a champion would be crowned in the final. This plan was later abandoned and a single round robin format was implemented with a transition to an intra-year (spring-to-autumn) schedule, unlike the previous inter-year (autumn-to-spring) schedule from the 2022–23 season.
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.
Important season dates Date Event January 1 Opening of first transfer window January 15 Deadline for club registration January 20 Preliminary submission of roster (clubs must submit at least 18 players) February 20 Second submission of roster (clubs must have a minimum of 25 players in roster with at least 7 players added) April 6 PFL season start
Teams The PFL would adopt a hybrid format, allowing clubs with no professional club licenses to participate. Five clubs from the previous season initially confirmed its participation, alongside former participants Davao Aguilas and Loyola (formerly competing as Meralco Manila) who expressed their commitment to the upcoming season in November and December 2023, respectively. DB Garelli United, a team that participated in the Copa, and Manila Montet also confirmed their participation in December. The league initially planned to expand to a number of 12 clubs and invited all the other non-UAAP sides, but due to the overwhelming demand plans were made for further expansion.
In February 2023, United City, who had previously withdrawn midway through the 2022–23 season due to financial and legal issues with the Singaporean group Riau Capital Live, announced their return to the league. The club had previously opted out of participating in the 2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara. On February 5, the league officially announced that the number of participating clubs had grown to 15, the most teams to have participated in a PFL season. The other new clubs included four who had participated in the previous edition of the Copa; Manila Digger, Tuloy, Philippine Army, and 2019 participants Philippine Air Force, as well as a completely new club, One Taguig.
Team Location Davao Aguilas Tagum, Davao del Norte DB Garelli United Makati, Metro Manila Dynamic Herb Cebu Talisay, Cebu Kaya–Iloilo Iloilo City, Iloilo Loyola Manila, Metro Manila Maharlika Taguig Taguig, Metro Manila Manila Digger Taguig, Metro Manila Manila Montet Manila, Metro Manila Mendiola 1991 Imus, Cavite One Taguig Taguig, Metro Manila Philippine Air Force Pasay, Metro Manila Philippine Army Taguig, Metro Manila Stallion Laguna Biñan, Laguna Tuloy Muntinlupa, Metro Manila United City Capas, Tarlac
Stadiums Most league matches are scheduled to be held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, a venue which was also explicitly named as Manila Montet's home.
Tagum-based Davao Aguilas, a club which are in partnership with the University of Makati in Taguig, scheduled to play their home matches at the school's stadium.
In January, the club renamed from Maharlika Manila to Maharlika Taguig following their location change. Although they have no matches scheduled in Taguig. The same goes for Mendiola 1991, Stallion Laguna, and United City which also have their designated home stadiums.
Manila Iloilo City Rizal Memorial Stadium Iloilo Sports Complex Capacity: 12,873 Capacity: 7,000 Taguig Talisay, Cebu University of Makati Stadium Dynamic Herb Sports Complex Capacity: 3,295 Capacity: 550
Notes
Personnel and kits TeamHead coachCaptain Kit manufacturerSponsorsDavao Aguilas Aber Ruzgal Daisuke Sato Chronos AthleticsUniversity of Makati, SpeedRegalo, Brodo, Wit.idDB Garelli United Karl Claudio James Dorego Chronos AthleticsSmokin' Hills, Growee, GSMH Law, ClinkDynamic Herb Cebu Memiş Özata Nathanael Villanueva RAD ApparelLeylam, WinZir, Jpark Island Resort and Waterpark CebuKaya–Iloilo Yu Hoshide Audie Menzi LGR SportswearLBCLoyola Roxy Dorlas Kim Sung-min RAD ApparelPopeyes, Unioil, VV&CoMaharlika Taguig Lerche Njang Anton del Rosario Blaze AthleticsAIA, PalaroManila Digger Pong Liman Shin Min-ki UCANOKFlyManila Montet Kenneth Arnaldo Gansmari Antipuesto Wika SportThe Montet GroupMendiola 1991 Dan Padernal Hamed Hajimehdi RopaVill-Mell Trading, Mr. FreezeOne Taguig Jovanie Villagracia Kevin Ingreso Azkals SportswearChooks-to-Go, I Love TaguigPhilippine Air Force Joebel Bermejo Romeo Martinez Jr. Chronos AthleticsElan VitaPhilippine Army Nestorio Margarse Ricardo Becite Chronos AthleticsElan VitaStallion Laguna Ernest Nierras Matthew Nierras Blaze AthleticsGiligan's Restaurant, Pythos, SCIDTuloy Taketomo Suzuki Harry Nuñez Blaze AthleticsTSL Football FoundationUnited City Ramon Tribulietx Matt Silva Almer ApparelUCFC Fan Token, Fairmont Makati Notes: Located on the front of the shirt. Located on the back of the shirt. Located on the sleeves. 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 Yu Hoshide Demoted to assistant coach August 5, 2023 Pre-season Colum Curtis August 5, 2023 Dynamic Herb Cebu Mehmet Kakilhttps://www.goal.com/tr/haber/asya-yi-fetheden-turk-teknik-direktor-mehmet-kakil-teklif-bekliyor/blt8d49623068e16864 Mutual consent July 16, 2023 Joshua Schirmer August 9, 2023 Maharlika Taguig Roxy Dorlas Appointed head coach of Loyola Lerche Njang August 12, 2023Manila Montet None N/A Kim Jeong-il December 13, 2023 DB Garelli United Ake Pastoral Undisclosed December 17, 2023 Joel Villarino December 17, 2023 Kaya–Iloilo Colum Curtis Mutual consent December 12, 2023 Yu Hoshide January 13, 2024 Dynamic Herb Cebu Joshua Schirmer Sacked January 22, 2024 Memiş Özata January 30, 2024Manila Montet Kim Jeong-il Undisclosed February 23, 2024 Eliezer Fabroada February 23, 2024United City Joan Esteva Force majeure February 16, 2023 Marian Mihail March 13, 2024 One Taguig None N/A Jovanie Villagracia March 21, 2024 Mendiola 1991 Joel Villarino Appointed head coach of DB Garelli United December 17, 2023 Christopher Pedimonte April 6, 2024Manila Montet Eliezer Fabroada Undisclosed April 2024 12th Dennis Balbin April 21, 2024United City Marian Mihail Resigned April 21, 2024 7th Ramon Tribulietx May 1, 2024 DB Garelli United Joel Villarino Mutual consent May 1, 2024 13th Karl ClaudioManila Montet Dennis Balbin Resigned May 22, 2024 15th Kenneth Arnaldo May 29, 2024 Mendiola 1991 Christopher Pedimonte Undisclosed July 2024 10th Dan Padernal July 7, 2024
Foreign players
Players name in bold indicates the player was registered during the mid-season transfer window. Club Players Former players Davao Aguilas Gary Epesso Yohann Fofana Dosso Lancine Mun Jun-su Mun Te-su Ibrahima Ndour So Omae Dini Ouattara Shoma Sato Yusuke Unoki DB Garelli United Jangobah Johnson Jules Koumoin Leandro Solomon Obu Bode Solomon Dynamic Herb Cebu Yusuf Çekiç Göktuğ Demiroğlu Rintaro Hama Zamoranho Ho-A-Tham Marius Kore Guytho Mijland Abou Sy Devrim Yanık Kaya–Iloilo Walid Birrou Eric Esso Shuto Komaki Bandiougou Konate Lee Do-kyung Robert Lopez Mendy Park Yi-young Akito Saito Kaishu Yamazaki Loyola Isaac Acheampong Mohammed Ali Isaac Annan Franck Anoh David Asare Takaya Harada Boris Kante Kim Sung-min Daisuke Kobayashi Emmanuel Osei Ousmane Sidibé Alassane Wade Maharlika Taguig Gael Basana Soufiane Bouazzaoui Mikailou Djibrila Jack Gold Ousman Jeng Junior Mailly Yoshio Nakamoto Victor Nkoa Emmanuel Otuyemi Mamadou Sene Manila Digger Daniel Ashley Diao Su Daiki Jahana Salifu Jatta Jeon Sang-cheon Yuya Kuriyama Liu Mengyang Yussif Mubarik Shin Min-ki Ifeanyi Ugwu Sha Shuo Manila MontetNo foreign players registered Mendiola 1991 Ali Ghamloush Hamed Hajimehdi Hiromasa Ishikawa Hayato Kame Sajad Mohebizadeh Yusuke Nitta David Yeboah One Taguig Milad Behgandom Izzeldin Elhabib Naoto Hiraishi Taher Jahanbakhsh Tsukasa Shimomura Ilemona Usman Philippine Air ForceNo foreign players registered Philippine ArmyNo foreign players registered Stallion Laguna Ezequiel Cirigliano Alfredo Cortez Magson Dourado Pancho Gomez Aoi Isami Cristian Ivanobski Junior Ngong Sam Hayato Kame David Yeboah Leonardo Nogueira Abraham Placito Jesús Salazar Gabriel Silva Julian Stifano Théo Juan Trujillo Tuloy Jerald Aquino Dev Bachani United City Henri Bandeken Koffi Bini Darlton Digha Serge Kaole John Kamara Ariel Ngueukam Nurhidayat Ricardo Sendra Matt Silva James Sunday
Former players only include players who left after the start of the 2024 season.
Foreign players by confederation AFC (1), (1), (4), (18), (1), (7), (2) CAF (8), (1), (2), (10), (8), (1), (1), (1), (4), (5), (1), (1), (1) CONCACAF (1), (1), (1), (6) CONMEBOL (3), (5) UEFA (1), (1), (2), (1), (2)
League table
Positions by round
Results by round
Results
Season statistics Scoring Top goalscorers
Rank Player Club Goals1 Jarvey Gayoso Kaya–Iloilo232 Tsukasa Shimomura One Taguig213 Griffin McDaniel Stallion Laguna174 Ariel Ngueukam United City145 Ricardo Sendra United City136 Naoto Hiraishi One Taguig11 Zamoranho Ho-A-Tham Dynamic Herb Cebu Juan Trujillo Stallion Laguna Yusuke Unoki Davao Aguilas10 Magson Dourado Stallion Laguna10 Shuto Komaki Kaya–Iloilo Rintaro Hama Dynamic Herb Cebu Ibrahima Ndour Davao Aguilas
Top assists
Rank Player Club Assists1 Stephan Schröck One Taguig172 Guytho Mijland Dynamic Herb Cebu 153 Théo Stallion Laguna124 Paolo Bugas United City10 Jesus Melliza Kaya–Iloilo Kart Talaroc Davao Aguilas7 Mark Hartmann United City9 Zamoranho Ho-A-Tham Dynamic Herb Cebu Juan Trujillo Stallion Laguna10 Jovin Bedic Kaya–Iloilo8 Naoto Hiraishi One Taguig Shuto Komaki Kaya–Iloilo Abraham Placito Stallion Laguna Yannick Tuason One Taguig
Own goals
Rank Player Club Owngoals1 Antonio Albor Philippine Air Force1 Isaac Annan Loyola Neil Dorimon Philippine Army Keith Edulan Mendiola 1991 Bode Solomon DB Garelli United David Yeboah Mendiola 1991
Hat-tricks