THE Filipinas’ path back to the FIFA Women’s World Cup became even more challenging after being included in a tough group during the draw for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup at the Sydney Town Hall in Australia last Tuesday.
They found themselves in perhaps the most challenging bracket in Group A, together with host Australia, South Korea, and Iran, with Australian tactician Mark Torcaso, who was at the draw, getting caught on video lowering his head when the draw was completed.
The Nationals, who made their historic Women’s World Cup debut in New Zealand in 2023, were to be thrown into the lion’s den right away as they take on the Matildas, ranked No. 15 in the FIFA women’s world ratings, on March 1, 2026 at the 61,000 Optus Stadium in the Western Australia capital of Perth.
The last time the two squads met with Aussie mentor Alen Stajcic at the helm, the Filipinas took a 0-4 beating in the group stage of the 2022 edition at the Mumbai Arena in India.
They shrugged off the setback and reached the semifinals to book their ticket to the World Cup in the land of the Kiwis with a thrilling 4-3 win over Taiwan on penalties, with goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel completing the spot kick, after the two sides battled to a 1-all draw.
Now ranked No. 41, the Filipinas then take on the Tigresses of Asia, as the South Koreans are called and ranked No. 21, on March 5 at the Carrara Stadium, a major arena of Australian rules football, in the Australian eastern coastal city of Gold Coast.
They finish their group stage matches at the same arena against Iran (No. 61) three days later, with the top two finishers in the group advancing to the knockout quarterfinals together with the two best third placers among the three groups.
Making up Group are defending champion China, North Korea, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan while Group C is composed of Japan, Vietnam, India and Chinese-Taipei.
The winning quarterfinalists will advance to semifinals and seal their tickets to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Under the revised format, the four quarterfinal losers will have to clash in play-in matches.
The winners of the play-in games will join the semifinalists, completing the eight squads that will represent the continent in the Women’s World Cup.
