With their eyes set on the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, the Filipinas will field one of their youngest-ever squads at next month’s 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
Announced Wednesday, the 23-player roster has an average age of just 23.0 years. The squad features two senior-level debutants, alongside 10 other players who have yet to reach 10 international caps.
Goalkeeper Gaby Rourke, a standout from the University of South Florida, and former U-17 defender Aiselyn Sia headline the newcomers. They are joined by goalkeeper Nina Meollo; 33rd Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Mallie Ramirez, Alex Carpio, and Megan Murray; and relative newcomers Jourdyn Curran, Tea Pidding, Azumi Oka, Natalie Collins, Skye Leach, and Camryn Penn.
While calling up 12 players with limited international experience presents a clear risk, the decision also reflects a necessity and an opportunity for head coach Mark Torcaso and his staff to assess the squad’s long-term depth.
“In this Asian Games, we have a few players unavailable as it’s outside of the FIFA window, and we will use this opportunity to continue to test our young players and give opportunities to players to announce themselves on the national stage,” Torcaso said. “We want to give a chance for every player to be an option for next year’s World Cup. We will use this Asian Games as one of these options.”
Anchoring the squad are team captain Hali Long and World Cup stalwarts Olivia McDaniel, Jaclyn Sawicki, Sofia Wunsch, Katrina Guillou, Carleigh Frilles, Angie Beard, and Reina Bonta, along with senior regulars Isabella Pasion and Kaya Hawkinson and local collegiate standout Dionesa Tolentin.
(C) AFC
Drawn into Group G, the Philippines will face China, Hong Kong, and Uzbekistan.
The Filipinas last faced the Steel Roses in the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Jordan, where they suffered a 3-0 defeat.
More recently, the Philippines secured a 1-0 victory over Hong Kong in Cambodia during the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers in July 2025. They also previously blanked Uzbekistan, 2-0, in a 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture at the Asian Cup.
Despite the youthful lineup and the focus on next year’s World Cup, Torcaso said the Filipinas will look to break new ground in Aichi-Nagoya.
In the previous edition, the Australian mentor guided the team to the quarterfinals, and he is hopeful this squad can surpass that finish.
“We want to advance as a group,” he said. “We want to go as far as we can in this competition. We want to enjoy success. It’s as important as the Southeast Asian Games [where] we won gold. Our opportunity to win a medal or to go as far as possible is a reality here as well.”
(C) The-AFC.com
The Philippines will open its Asiad campaign on September 14 against Uzbekistan at 1 p.m., before facing Hong Kong on September 17 at 6 p.m. and closing group play against China at 3 p.m. All Group G matches are scheduled to be played at the 26,000-capacity Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium.
World No. 16 China enters as the highest-ranked team in the group, followed by the Philippines at No. 39, Uzbekistan at No. 51, and Hong Kong at No. 81.
The top two teams in each group will automatically advance to the knockout stage, while a third-place finish could also be enough to progress depending on results in the other groups.
“If I look at the groupings, I think all the groups are tough groups in their own individual ways. I think our group is a tough group,” Torcaso said. “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.
“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.”
