Filipinas unfazed despite being in tough Asiad bracket

Filipinas.–PFF PHOTO

The Philippine women’s football team believes it will be up for a daunting task of just getting out of the group stage in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which will also serve as a preparation leg for next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup.

Coach Mark Torcaso’s side is in Group G with China and two familiar opponents in Uzbekistan and Hong Kong, with the top two teams and possibly the third placer advancing to the quarterfinals.

“I think all the groups are tough groups in their own individual ways. I think our group is a tough group,” Torcaso said after the Philippine Football Federation recently released the team composition for the quadrennial meet set Sept. 14 to Oct. 2.

The Filipinas have not faced China since losing 3-0 the 2018 Asian Cup, while it was Uzbekistan that they defeated 2-0 in a play-in match in this year’s Asian Cup to secure qualification to the World Cup.

Meanwhile, the Philippines nipped Hong Kong, 1-0, in 2025 at the Asian Cup Qualifiers.

“We’ve got Hong Kong—(who) we narrowly beat to qualify for the Asian Cup as well—who are also a very good team, and we also know how good China is,” Torcaso said. “We haven’t played China ever since I’ve been here. China is a great team and it gives us a chance to play against a very, very good team.

“But again, this Asian Games is also about preparing us for the World Cup,” he added.

The Philippines faces Uzbekistan to open its Asian Games campaign on Sept. 14, before facing Hong Kong on Sept. 17 and China on Sept. 21.

Veterans Olivia McDaniel, Hali Long, Angela Beard, Katrina Guillou and Jaclyn Sawicki, plus Mallie Ramirez and Isabella Pasion headline the Filipinas’ roster.

In 2023, the Filipinas reached the quarterfinals of the Hangzhou Asiad led by striker Sarina Bolden, before being battered by eventual champion Japan. INQ