Maya’s cross-functional football team completed an unbeaten campaign to capture the Corporate Football League 2026 Division 3 Cup, finishing the tournament with nine wins, 31 goals scored and just three conceded.
The team, made up of employees from different functions across Maya, defeated Shopee, 3–1, in the championship match held at Atleta ’63 Turf Field in Bridgetowne, Pasig City.
The July-to-August tournament run saw Maya post a perfect 9–0 record. Before reaching the final, the team recorded wins against UnionBank, Wells Fargo, Shopee, GCash, JPMorgan Chase, RCM and Globe, followed by a 2–0 semifinal victory over UnionBank.
A cross-functional team on and off the field
The Maya squad brought together employees from product development, engineering, technology, data science, consumer business, credit, enterprise, strategic partnerships, marketing, corporate affairs, and strategy and programs.
For Mohamed Omar Mahmoud, Maya football team co-captain and senior strategic partnerships officer, the team's success came from putting aside their different roles and working toward the same objective.
“We came from very different teams across Maya, but on the pitch everyone had one priority: do what the team needed,” Mahmoud said.
He added that the players trained together, trusted one another and stayed focused throughout the tournament.
“Going 9–0 was special, but the best part was winning it together,” he said.
How workplace sports can connect employees
Maya said sports and shared-interest activities form part of its broader employee engagement efforts, providing opportunities for colleagues to stay active and build relationships outside their usual teams.
Respect for people is also one of the four pillars identified in Maya's environmental, social and governance framework. Its people initiatives cover areas including professional development, health and wellness, workplace safety and employee engagement.
“At Maya, engagement goes beyond formal workplace programs,” said Charee Lanza, Group Chief People Officer at Maya.
“We want people to have opportunities to stay active, pursue shared interests and connect with colleagues they may not normally work with,” Lanza said. “This team showed how that energy, discipline and sense of ownership can bring people together.”
What is the Corporate Football League?
The Corporate Football League is an amateur football competition for companies and organizations from different industries.
Its tournaments feature corporate, mixed open and women's categories, with corporate teams competing across divisions.
For Maya, the 2026 campaign ended with both a championship trophy and a rare perfect record, as its employees went through all nine matches without a defeat.