The Filipinas face Uzbekistan in a play-in match for the FIFA Women’s World Cup on March 19 at Gold Coast Stadium in Queensland, Australia. A win secures a ticket to the tournament hosted by Brazil next year. Coach Mark Torcaso expressed confidence in his team's readiness.
The Philippine women's national football team, the Filipinas, prepares for a play-in match against Uzbekistan in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. The game takes place at Gold Coast Stadium in Queensland, Australia, on Thursday, March 19. A victory would return the Filipinas to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, hosted by Brazil next year, following their debut in 2023 under former coach Alen Stajcic. Head coach Mark Torcaso said, “Our girls have done a fantastic job getting ourselves to this point, to be in contention to qualify for a World Cup again.” He added, “I think our players are well-equipped to deal with a big match like this, but more importantly, they’re also supportive of every single player and staff.” Both teams won one group stage game with a -2 goal difference. The Filipinas lost 7-0 to Japan in the quarterfinals, while Uzbekistan fell 6-0 to South Korea. Their October friendly at Rizal Memorial Stadium ended 2-2. The Philippines ranks world No. 40; Uzbekistan No. 50 seeks its first World Cup. “We’re really determined to make sure that we go again. We’ve got people that have experienced what the World Cup is about,” Torcaso stated. A full-strength lineup is expected after sitting goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel against Japan.
