Maryland’s Rocket Ritarita Earns Call-Up to Philippine Men’s National Team
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Maryland men’s soccer sophomore Rocket Ritarita has reached another major milestone in his rapidly rising career, earning a call-up to the Philippine Men’s National Team for the 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup. The selection gives the Terrapins another international representative and highlights the growing reputation of head coach Sasho Cirovski’s program for developing talent capable of competing on the world stage.
Ritarita and the Philippines will begin tournament play on July 28 against Myanmar, before facing Laos on Aug. 1, Thailand on Aug. 4 and Malaysia on Aug. 8 to conclude the group stage. The tournament serves as one of Southeast Asia’s premier international competitions and provides the young forward with an opportunity to compete against senior international talent.
The national team selection comes after an outstanding freshman season in College Park.
Ritarita quickly emerged as one of the Big Ten’s top young attacking players during the 2025 campaign. The dynamic forward was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors after an explosive start to his collegiate career.
By season’s end, Ritarita had appeared in 18 matches, making three starts while recording:
- 4 goals
- 6 assists
- 10 total points
- Two NCAA Tournament goals
- One NCAA Tournament assist
His biggest performances came during Maryland’s postseason run, scoring against both North Carolina and No. 13 UConn while adding an assist against the Huskies. Those clutch performances helped cement his reputation as one of the conference’s brightest young offensive players.
Before arriving at Maryland, Ritarita developed through two of Major League Soccer’s premier academies.
The Canton, Georgia, native spent four years with the Atlanta United Academy before moving to the Charlotte FC Academy, where he became one of the top youth prospects in the country. He also competed for Crown Legacy FC, Charlotte FC’s MLS NEXT Pro club, earned MLS NEXT All-Star honors in 2023 and was named MLS NEXT U16 Cup MVP earlier in his youth career.
Now, he will have the opportunity to represent the Philippines on the international stage.
The Philippine national team has embraced a younger roster as it looks to build on recent success in regional competition. Ritarita joins a talented group aiming to make another deep run in the ASEAN Championship while gaining valuable experience that should benefit both his international career and his future at Maryland.
What It Means for Maryland
Maryland has long been recognized as one of the nation’s premier men’s soccer programs, and Ritarita’s selection continues that tradition.
Under Cirovski, the Terrapins have consistently produced professionals and international players. Competing against senior national teams will provide Ritarita with invaluable experience before he returns to College Park for his sophomore campaign, where he is expected to play an even larger role in Maryland’s attack.
With confidence gained from international competition and another offseason of development, Ritarita could emerge as one of the Big Ten’s breakout stars in 2026.
MSB Analysis
Rocket Ritarita’s call-up is a significant achievement for both the player and Maryland soccer. International experience at such an early stage of a college career often accelerates player development, especially for attacking players facing veteran defenders. The Terrapins already knew they had one of the conference’s most talented young forwards. Now, Ritarita has the opportunity to prove himself on the international stage before returning to College Park with even greater confidence and experience.
