As the whole world awaits with anticipation the 2018 World Cup for Football, to be played in Moscow starting June 14, 2018, the Philippines will have a busy year in this sport that is slowly attracting more attention, especially among the Filipino youth.  The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) is budgeting some P167 million for projects and programs for 2018 when the men and women’s national teams will be participating in important international tournaments, as reported by sports writer Cedelf Tupas.  PFF President Mariano “Nonong” Araneta is aiming to raise additional funding of some P32 million to supplement what PFF will receive from FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation and the ASEAN Football Federation. A large portion of the budget will be going to the technical department, which focuses on training at all levels, i.e. grassroots, age-group teams and the national teams. Expected to give a big boost to the training activities is the construction of a new football center inside the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.  A part of the budget will be needed to help the national team, the Azkals, to qualify for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.  The Azkals will also see action in the AFF Suzuki Cup in 2018.  Some P15 million will be allotted to the Women’s team, the Malditas, who are scheduled to vie for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Jordan in April 2018.