Sawicki '100% ready' in Filipinas' do-or-die clash against Iran, assures Torcaso
- Rodolfo Dacleson II
- Mar 7
- 2 min read
Veteran midfielder Jaclyn Sawicki will return to the pitch as the Philippine women's national football team aims to stay in contention in the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup, Filipinas head coach Mark Torcaso said.
Last Thursday, she missed their match against South Korea, which they lost 3-0, due to an apparent injury.
“Jackie got a little knock in training yesterday. She'll be okay for the next game,” said Torcaso in a post-match media conference.
The Australian mentor added that they ultimately decided to rest the 33-year-old playmaker to ensure she's in optimal condition in their must-win game against Iran.
“She [Sawicki] probably could have gotten close to playing this one, but we also have to consider that if we want to get out of the group, we need to have Jackie at her best,” said Torcaso. “And it was probably just not in the best for her to play this game, but she's going to be 100 percent ready for the next game.”
The Filipinas must score a convincing victory against the Lionesses on Sunday, March 8, to advance to the quarterfinals as one of the tournament's two best third-placed teams.
Both sides are winless in Group A, with the Philippines sitting at third due to better goal difference.
The reigning Southeast Asian Games champion must also hope that other third-placed teams in Groups B and C suffer blowout losses.
Sawicki, who plays for Canada's Calgary Wild FC, has been a national team mainstay since making her first international appearance in a friendly match against Tonga in April 2022.
The Filipino-Canadian booter was part of the lineups that helped the country lift its first major international trophy during the 2022 AFC Women's Championship and get a historic win in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Last December, she also featured for the Filipinas who bagged the Philippines' first football gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games.
“Obviously, Jackie is a very experienced player and a very important player to our group. But we'll definitely be seeing Jackie back in the next game. Just more precautionary, probably with her,” said Torcaso.
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