The Philippine Women’s National Football Team opened its 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup campaign with a narrow 1–0 loss to host nation Australia on Sunday, putting up a spirited fight before 60,000 fans at Optus Stadium in Perth.
Sam Kerr, the Matildas’ all-time leading scorer, extended her international tally to 70 goals by nodding home a Caitlin Foord cross in the 14th minute.
Despite the early breakthrough, the Filipinas refused to buckle. They managed to avoid a repeat of the heavy defeats they suffered against Australia in recent years — most notably a 4–0 loss in the 2022 Asian Cup and an 8–0 rout in the 2024 Olympic Qualifiers.
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Iconic goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel anchored the Filipinas’ defensive resilience, denying a flurry of chances from the likes of Katrina Gorry, Clare Wheeler, and Steph Catley across both halves.
Earlier in the match, Hayley Raso appeared to have doubled the home side’s lead after Kerr’s opener, but her strike was ultimately overturned following a VAR review for offside.
“We’re disappointed that we lost a game,” said Filipinas coach Mark Torcaso. “But, for us, it was all about fighting till the end, in every single game. I think you saw that today.”
He added, “I’m pleased that the team did that. We didn’t get the outcome we wanted. But, it’s good for us to keep going in the next two games.”
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With a strong start on home soil, Australia tops Group A with three points.
The Philippines will seek redemption this Thursday against South Korea at Cbus Super Stadium in Gold Coast, with kickoff scheduled for 11:00 AM (Manila time).
Meanwhile, Australia looks to carry its momentum into a later match against Iran at the same venue at 5:00 PM.
