THE Philippines, as host, drew world No. 17 Poland for its opening round foe in Group A during the formal draw for the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup opening on Nov. 21 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Besides Poland, which topped the qualifiers of the 16-team tournament, and the Philippines, also in Group A are Argentina (No.6) and Morocco (No. 16) in the first women’s futsal global showcase hosted by the Philippine Football Federation and sanctioned by the International Football Federation, known by its French acronym FIFA.
Group B is composed of world No. 2 Spain, Thailand (No. 4), Colombia (No. 8 and Canada (No. 74), while Group C is made up of Portugal (No. 3), Tanzania (No. 82), making its debut in an international FIFA senior tournament, Japan (No. 5) and New Zealand (No. 21).
In Group D are world No. 1 and top favorite Brazil, reigning women’s Asian futsal champion Iran (No. 9), Italy (No. 7) and Panama (No. 79) after the colorful draw featuring some prominent futsal exponents led by Brazilian great Falcao, a two-time FIFA Men’s Futsal World Cup champion.
“The draw is always a nerve-wracking event, but it’s just one step closer of getting the game started and I can’t wait for the Philippines to show that ‘sama-sama’ spirit,” said Filipinas skipper Hali Long, who served as one of the assistants in the draw.
“This is a historic moment. After years of clamoring by women’s futsal players around the world, it is finally going to happen. Starting Nov. 21, women’s futsal will shine on a global stage in the first-ever FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup,” noted PFF president John Gutierrez, the moving force behind the hosting.
Gutierrez thanked FIFA’s Giovanni Infantino and FIFA executive council member and former PFF president Mariano Araneta Jr., plus President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., for paving the way for the country’s hosting of the women’s futsal spectacular.
“I am very excited with the teams we have been drawn with, I think all the groups are similarly matched,” said Filipina5 mainstay Isabella Flanigan, who witnessed the draw.
“Futsal is an unpredictable sport and we will just take it game by game and learn what we can about each team, and do our best for the country and for each other,” Flanigan, also a member of the Filipinas, the women’s national football team, added.
“It’s (the draw) very exciting. It’s great to see what we need to expect and what we need to work on against the other teams,” national teammate Judith Connoll, who sat beside Flanigan during the draw, said.
