Filipinas still at world No. 41

The Philippine national women’s football team maintained its No. 41 ranking in the International Football Association (FIFA) ahead of its busy schedule this year.

The Filipinas are still within the Top 50 despite a 0-1 loss to Chinese Taipei in a friendly match last week at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

The Filipinas are bracing for a handful of competitions for this year starting with the AFC Women’s Asian Cup on 29 June in Cambodia when they face Saudi Arabia.

After the Saudis, the Cambodians will test the mettle of the Philippines on 2 July before facing Hong Kong on 4 July.

Only the top seed of each group will earn a ticket for next year’s Asian Cup in Australia.

Next, the Filipinas will be in Hanoi in August as they start their back-to-back title bid for the ASEAN MSIG Serenity Cup from 6 to 19 August.

The Philippines will go up against Australia, Timor Leste, and Myanmar in Group B as they look to defend the title it won in 2022.

Lastly, there is the 33rd Southeast Asian Games from 9 to 20 December in Thailand where they are seeking another podium finish.

Filipinas head coach Mark Torcaso said they have a good mix of players that will help them with their goals for 2025 after their recent camp in Manila.

“So the expectations are for us to continue to build the playing style. We’re getting there, we got to a point where we’re comfortable with it,” Torcaso said.

“But this camp will provide us, hopefully, an opportunity to be really good defensively.”