Filipinas' World Cup bid still alive after advancing to Asian Cup quarterfinals
- Rodolfo Dacleson II
- Mar 13
- 2 min read
The Philippine women's national football team could finally relax and breathe a sigh of relief after a tense two-day wait.
The Filipinas booked their spot in the quarterfinals of the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup with the help of Japan on the final day of the group stages on Tuesday, March 10.
The Nadeshiko dominated Vietnam, 4-0, at the Perth Rectangular Stadium in Perth, Australia, allowing the Philippines to overtake its Southeast Asian neighbor in the rankings of third-placed team due to better goal difference.
Last Sunday, the Filipinas had to overcome Iran to stay in contention behind the goals of Sara Eggesvik and Chandler McDaniel.
“I’m glad we got the win,” said Eggesvik, who was named Player of the Match, as reported by the Tiebreaker Times. “We came into this game not knowing how many goals we needed, just knowing that we had to win.”
It came after absorbing back-to-back losses to host Australia and last edition's runner-up South Korea in Group A, considered as the tournament's “group of death.”
By reaching the quarterfinals, the reigning Southeast Asian Games champion inches closer to a return trip to the World Cup next year in Brazil, as outright berths await the four winners in this round.
Two losing quarterfinalists could still directly qualify through the play-in matches. Losers, meanwhile, get their last shot via the inter-confederation play-offs.
The Philippines and the rest of the quarterfinal casts have also qualified for the 2028 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Coincidentally, in nearly identical circumstances, Japan also helped the Filipinas advance into the knockout rounds of the pandemic-delayed 2022 Asian Games by demolishing Vietnam in the conclusion of the group stages.
Both sides ultimately met in the quarterfinals with the Japanese eleven decimating the Filipina booters, 8-1, ending the latter's campaign in their maiden Asian Games appearance. Sarina Bolden, the Filipinas' all-time top scorer, scored the lone goal.
The same as nearly three years ago, the Philippines will face Japan for a direct World Cup slot at the Accor Stadium in Sydney on Sunday, March 5.
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