Star goalkeeper Neil Etheridge will be at the helm when the national men's football team battles Iraq in the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Etheridge, 34, is tipped to make his presence felt as he spearheads a mixture of young and veteran players with the hopes of beating the Lions of Mesopotamia on 22 March at the Basra International Stadium in the Iraqi city of Basra and on 26 March at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Manila.

He will be joining Patrick Deyto of Chonburi and Kevin Ray Mendoza of Persib Bandung as goalkeepers of the squad that will be managed by head coach Tom Saintfiet.

Meanwhile, Daisuke Sato of Davao Aguilas FC headlines the defenders together with Amani Aguinaldo of Trat FC, Pocholo Bugas of Angkor Tiger, Marco Casambre of Kaya FC–Iloilo, Jesse Curran of Ratchaburi, Simen Lyngbø of Persik Kediri, Jesper Nyholm of Perak, Christian Rontini of Persita Tangerang, Jefferson Tabinas of Buriram United and Paul Tabinas of Vuvokar 1991.

Atletico Madrid U19 right back Santi Rublico will serve as midfielder together with national team veteran Kevin Ingreso, Justin Baas, Matthew Baldisimo of York United, Michael Baldisimo of the San Jose Earthquakes, Oskari Kekkonen of Lamphun Warrior, Mike Ott of Barito Putera, Jose Elmer Porteria of Dewa United 21 and Mark Swainston of Kaya FC.

National team veteran Jarvey Gayoso of Kaya makes an appearance for the Philippines in this World Cup qualifiers as he joins forwards Andres Aldeguer of Central Connecticut University, JB Borlongan and Chima Uzoka of Cebu FC, Theo Libarnes of Far Easter University and Patrick Reichelt of Kuala Lumpur City in the 24-man pool.

Right now, the Filipinos have only one point behind a 0-1-1 win-draw-loss record in Group F and getting a draw or a win over the Iraqis will boost their chances of seeing action in the World Cup that will be held in Canada, United States and Mexico in 2026.

The top two teams per group will advance to the next round, where they will also earn an outright berth in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.

In a previous statement, Saintfiet said he hopes to make an impact similar to what he did with Gambia in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.