IN a prelude to the country’s hosting of the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup in 2025, the Philippine Football Federation is staging the five-nation Asean Women’s Futsal Championship from Nov. 16 to 21 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
“This Women’s Futsal Championships is historic because it is the first ever for the region, and it will be the first ever international tournament under our new administration,” noted PFF president John Gutierrez in a statement.
“With awareness and participation for women’s football at an all-time high, we are continuing the tremendous work that the Filipinas have achieved in the last several years,” added Gutierrez of the competition also featuring Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Myanmar.
“With futsal also growing, this hosting of the Women’s Futsal Championship is an exciting follow-up that stands on its own as we build up to our hosting next year’s FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup late next year,” he added.
The meet will mark the debut of the national women’s futsal team under noted Dutch mentor Victor “Mr. Futsal” Hermans in a major international competition in its build-up for the first FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup that will be held in Manila and Iloilo from Nov. 21 to Dec. 7 next year.
Even during the latter phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, the PFF was actively investing in women’s futsal in the country with the support of the Henry Moran Foundation.
It conducted the PFF Tri-Nations Women’s Futsal Invitational in October last year, with the national women’s team taking runner-up honors with Hermans calling the shots.
A pioneer FIFA instructor in the dynamic and fast-paced sport of five-a-side indoor football, Hermans was at the helm of six national futsal sides in the past and is eager to lead his charges in next month’s AFF Women’s Futsal Championship.
“We invite all football fans, players, coaches, stakeholders to watch this exciting event. Rest assured that we have a top team working behind the scenes to ensure the success of this Asean Women’s Futsal Championship,” Gutierrez said.