Fresh off a dominant showing in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers, Philippine Women’s National Football Team head coach Mark Torcaso believes the Filipinas are heading into a jam-packed schedule with confidence and momentum firmly on their side.
The Filipinas swept their three-match campaign in Cambodia, defeating Saudi Arabia, host nation Cambodia, and Hong Kong by a combined score of 10-0.
The flawless run not only secured the team’s third consecutive AFC Women’s Asian Cup berth but also kept them in contention for a spot in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
“Brilliant — because we came here with the objective to qualify and not concede, and we did that,” said Torcaso in a post-match interview with Laban Filipinas and Who the Heck Are We? following the team’s hard-fought 1-0 win over Hong Kong.
“That was a really scrappy game. We probably should’ve gotten a penalty, which might have closed the game out, but we did everything we needed to do.
“We came here to get nine points, to qualify, and not concede — and we did that. I’m very happy.”
With qualification now in the bag, the Filipinas are bracing for a busy stretch of tournaments.
Up next is the ASEAN MSIG Serenity Cup 2025, where they’ll look to defend their regional crown, followed by the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand later this year.
(C) PFF
But with most of these competitions falling outside FIFA international windows, assembling a full-strength squad becomes a logistical challenge.
Still, Torcaso sees a silver lining: a chance for younger or lesser-known players to step up and stake their claim.
“We’re looking forward to that. It’s probably gonna be a little different with regard to our squad,” said the former Western United mentor. “There are gonna be a lot of World Cup players who won’t be available due to club commitments. So we’re really looking at bringing a strong group of young players, along with a few senior team regulars who are available.
“It’s going to be a mix of both, but we’re going to go there and do the absolute best that we can. Obviously, we’ll try to defend our AFF title from a couple of years ago, but we’re also preparing for the Asian Cup in Australia. We’ll use the AFF tournament as an opportunity to test players at the senior level and build a solid squad for the Asian Cup.”
After a relatively quiet 2024, the next 18 months will see the Filipinas back in the thick of elite competition. Each match is an opportunity to prove that their historic 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance was not a one-off, but part of a rising trajectory for the sport in the Philippines.
The pressure to maintain their international stature is real. But for Torcaso, the mission goes beyond wins and trophies.
It’s about inspiring the next generation of Filipinas to dream big.
“I know that everyone would’ve been watching back home in the Philippines,” he said. “We had a really good crowd here today. You guys are out here screaming for us. This is for everyone at home and our community all around the world. I’m really proud of the girls. I’m really proud of our coaching staff.
“We just want to continue this momentum. Just like what the girls did at the World Cup a few years ago, we want to bring that back, stay positive, and make sure we’re making an impact on every young girl in the Philippines.”
