Tough challenges await defiant Filipinas

The national women’s football team remains unfazed despite being drawn with powerhouse countries in the AFC Asian Cup next year.

Filipinas head coach Mark Torcaso said despite going up against tougher teams right away, they knew that getting into the Asian Cup would be the pathway to joining the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The Filipinas landed on Group A with powerhouse countries like South Korea and Australia as well as Iran in a draw that was held at the Sydney Town Hall in Sydney, Australia.

“We’ve been in a lot of camps and tried to prepare for this situation but this is just the first step for going to the World Cup so we’re looking forward to using this competition as a platform to get there,” Torcaso told HER WAY Sports Media.

The Filipinas are familiar with the Australians and Koreans.

In fact, they last collided in October of last year during the second round of the AFC Olympic Qualifiers at Perth Stadium.

The Matildas battered the Filipinas, 8-0, with Sam Kerr of Chelsea and Caitlin Foord of Arsenal leading the way with a hattrick each.

Meanwhile, the Philippines has yet to defeat the Koreans since 2022 in the semifinal of the Women’s Asian Cup in India.

They collided in a friendly match last year with the Koreans booking a 2-1 victory at the Icheon Sports Complex.

The Philippines need to finish at least second in Group A or emerge as one of the two best third-placed teams in the tournament to advance to the knockout stages.

Only the top six teams of the Asian Cup will be given outright berths for next year’s World Cup.

Philippine Football Federation president John Gutierrez is confident the Filipinas will be at their best for next year’s Asian Cup.

“Not the easiest group but not the hardest. Either way, we have to beat the best to be the best,” Gutierrez said.

“Our girls will be ready come March.”