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Aboitiz Football Cup

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Aboitiz Football Cup
Organising bodyAboitiz Foundation
Founded1997 in Cebu with Aboitiz Land and Aboitiz Foundation
RegionCebu, Batangas, Tarlac, and Davao
Aboitiz Football Cup Season 24

The Aboitiz Football Cup is an annual football tournament held in the Philippines. This year, Aboitiz Football Cup Season 24 launched with an exciting kickoff on September 14, 2024, at the Dynamic Herb-Borromeo Sports Complex in Talisay, Cebu. This season, 110 teams are competing in the country’s longest-running grassroots football tournament, emphasizing both competitive excellence and camaraderie. Notably, this year introduces a new sustainability dimension with the Wasteless Campaign in collaboration with Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI), promoting the "Tapon to Ipon: Basta Klaro, Panalo!" initiative. This campaign encourages the recycling of clear PET plastic bottles at designated drop-off points, aligning with Aboitiz’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

During the first day of the tournament, Makati Football Club (MFC) Cebu delivered a dominant 12-0 win against Don Bosco FC-A, setting the tone for an exciting season. Additional highlights included Real Galaxy FC securing an 8-0 victory over Corona Del Mar FC, while Bato Spartans FC maintained their winning streak with a 4-0 triumph over City of Naga FC.

Sustainability at the Core

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The Wasteless Campaign is a standout feature of Season 24, blending sportsmanship with environmental responsibility. Participating teams are tasked with collecting a set volume of clear PET plastic bottles, which will be recycled through PETValue Philippines, the country’s first bottle-to-bottle recycling facility—a joint venture between CCBPI and Indorama Ventures. This initiative is designed to inspire collaboration between communities, athletes, and fans, reinforcing Aboitiz’s commitment to building sustainable, waste-free communities.

Nationwide Expansion and Regional Festivals

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This season marks the Aboitiz Football Cup’s nationwide expansion, with regional legs in Luzon and Mindanao, featuring football festivals in Tarlac, Batangas, and Davao. These regional tournaments are hosted by Aboitiz InfraCapital and its business units, AIC Economic Estates and Apo Agua, further extending the tournament’s reach and fostering young talent across the Philippines. The season will culminate in a special exhibition match in February 2025 in Cebu, where the champion teams from the Players 16 and 18 Boys categories in each region will face off, celebrating the spirit of sportsmanship and unity.

Partners of Aboitiz Football Cup Season 24

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Hosted by the Aboitiz Foundation, the Aboitiz Football Cup (AFC) Season 24 is made possible through a wide range of partnerships aimed at promoting grassroots sports and sustainability. The opening ceremony took place in Cebu on September 14, 2024, and was organized in collaboration with several key partners:

  • Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC): A major partner in hosting regional festivals, Aboitiz InfraCapital and its business units, AIC Economic Estates and Apo Agua, play an important role in expanding the tournament to new regions, including Tarlac, Batangas, and Davao.
  • Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI): Partnering with the AFC for its sustainability initiatives, CCBPI is behind the Wasteless Campaign, promoting the "Tapon to Ipon: Basta Klaro, Panalo!" program, which focuses on the recycling of clear PET plastic bottles, helping reduce environmental impact through sports.
  • Central Visayas Football Association (CVFA): The local governing body for football in Cebu is actively involved in organizing and managing the tournament, ensuring a smooth flow of matches across various venues.
  • AboitizPower’s Thermal Group and AdventEnergy: Supporting the tournament’s operations and promoting energy needs are met, these companies highlight the Aboitiz Group’s integrated approach to combining sports development with sustainable practices.

These partnerships emphasize the Aboitiz Football Cup’s mission to foster both athletic and environmental development, reflecting Aboitiz’s holistic approach to creating positive impacts in the communities it serves. The tournament will continue throughout succeeding weekends in Cebu, culminating in a closing ceremony in February 2025.

Football and Beyond

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For over two decades, the Aboitiz Football Cup has been more than just a competition—it has become a platform for young athletes to develop teamwork, resilience, and character, both on and off the field. With the return of the AFC to Cebu after a four-year break, and its nationwide expansion, Season 24 promises to inspire a new generation of athletes who are champions of both football and environmental stewardship. For more details, follow the official Aboitiz Football Cup social media channels at Facebook.

History of the Aboitiz Football Cup

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The Aboitiz Football Cup was established in Cebu and has grown to become one of the most prestigious football tournaments in the Philippines. The tournament started with only a men's division in its second edition in 1997, featuring alumni and club teams such as M. Lhuillier. Over the years, the competition expanded to include a women's open division and various youth divisions for both boys and girls, marking its evolution into a comprehensive grassroots football platform.

In 2017, during the 19th edition, the Aboitiz Football Cup underwent a significant rebrand, with plans announced to make the tournament nationwide in its 20th edition in 2018. This expansion became a reality with the tournament taking place simultaneously in Luzon and Visayas, held at the newly inaugurated Aboitiz Pitch in Lipa, Batangas and Cebu, respectively.

The tournament faced an unexpected halt in 2020 during its 21st edition, when it was disrupted and postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the top teams from each age division were declared champions, but it wasn’t until November 2022 that the competition fully resumed.

Venues

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The Cebu City Sports Complex.

Aboitiz Football Cup venues.[1]

Since the tournament’s expansion to Luzon in 2018, matches have been held at the Aboitiz Pitch in Lipa, Batangas, cementing the tournament's growing reach across the Philippines.

The return of the Aboitiz Football Cup Season 24 marks an even broader nationwide expansion, with regional legs taking place in Tarlac, Batangas, Davao, and Cebu, reaffirming its status as the premier grassroots football tournament in the country.

References

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  1. ^ Rosal, Glen Dale (August 30, 2017). "Aboitiz Football Cup bares plans, new logo". Cebu Daily News. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
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