The national women’s football team is hoping star striker Sarina Bolden will join in time for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia from 1 to 21 March.

Filipinas head coach Mark Torcaso told ESPN that the door remains open for the 29-year-old Bolden if her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury fully heals before the tournament.

Bolden underwent surgery last May and has been busy rehabilitating herself to get back into game shape.

“We’re going to give her every single chance to be part of it. We aim to get her on the field,“ Tocaso said.

“If, by chance, it doesn’t fall that way, then she has a very special place in every Filipino’s heart for what she’s done for our country, and there’ll be a little bit in every player obviously playing for her if she’s not there.”

The Filipinas are in Group A with Australia, South Korea and Iran.

Even without Bolden, the Philippines has enough players to challenge the best squads in Asia.

Led by FIFA World Cup veterans Olivia McDaniel, Hali Long and Angie Beard, the Filipinas even won their first-ever Southeast Asian Games gold medal after beating Vietnam in a penalty shootout, 0-0 (6-5) in Chonburi, Thailand.

Torcaso believes they need to prepare well if they want a shot at making the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

The Asian Cup was the same tournament where the Filipinas booked a ticket to the World Cup back in 2022 in India.

“I believe with a really good preparation, we may be able to shock any team in our group and advance out, and that’s our goal,” Torcaso said.

“So we’re looking forward to it and I’m hoping that every fan, every person that has Filipino blood, is going to come and watch us and support us in Perth for that first game.”