World-renowned sports brand adidas presented on Wednesday the kits that will be worn by the Philippine Women’s National Football team in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
At the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater, various members of the World Cup-bound squad modeled the uniforms that the team will use in its upcoming competitions.
“The FIFA Women’s World Cup is just one moment in time. It’s our way of creating excitement about football in this country, raising awareness, and generating discussion,” said Anthony Frangos, the current adidas Philippines General Manager.
“It’s the world stage for the sport. These athletes have trained their whole lives to be able to compete at this level. For the Philippines to be included among the best countries in the world, with these girls representing the flag at the most elite level, the best of the best, that’s what we’re talking about.”
adidas and the World Cup go hand in hand. Seeing the Philippines have the same apparel provider as the likes of Germany, Japan, and Sweden is a step in the right direction for the national team program.
While there may be other things to consider in terms of preparing correctly for the big dance, at least the kits won’t be one of them anymore.
“The Philippines will be there. These girls will be representing the flag with the best players around the world, and that in itself is something to celebrate. Regardless of the results, the ability to participate and be recognized as one of the countries taking part is a celebration in itself,” said Frangos.
“That’s ultimately why we’re here today—to help celebrate that moment, raise awareness for the girls and the team, and in doing so, elevate the sport of football in the Philippines.”
The 49th-ranked Filipinas will head to the tournament as underdogs against the likes of host nation New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland in Group A, as they are ranked 25th, 12th, and 20th in the world rankings, respectively.
However, it is the Philippines’ unlikely story that attracted adidas in the first place in this four-year program, which can be extended down the line.
“We’ve been watching the Filipinas for some time and admiring their grit and determination, considering there is no professional domestic league in the Philippines. The ability for players to play locally just isn’t there. So some of the homegrown talents has needed to go abroad to develop their skills,” said Frangos.
“Their ability to compete and represent the Asian Football Confederation on the world stage is remarkable. It’s something we wanted to be a part of, and the opportunity to tell that story, not just about football but also about recognizing women in sport as a whole, is underdeveloped,” he added.
“I believe we can certainly spark more conversations around that. Having a brand like ours be a part of that conversation is something we’re proud of, something we wanted to be a part of.”
Since this will be the first kit worn by the Filipinas on the world stage, it is only fitting that it will be released to the market on a special day in the country’s history.
It is not every day that the Philippines will play in the World Cup, so it is only right that the kit will be released on a significant day.
“We will launch for pre-sale on Independence Day aligning with the independence of the country and the flag. The product will be shortly available following that,” said Frangos.
“For all the Filipinos abroad who don’t have access to the domestic market, we are partnering with our very close customer Bootcamp. They will be able to supply Filipinos all over the world with the kit,” he continued.
“So any fan can show their support and get behind this team as we get ready for July for the FIFA Women’s World Cup but also the AFC championships, the Olympic qualifiers, and all the events still to come.”
