The moment is now, Filipinas!
- Rodolfo Dacleson II
- Mar 17
- 2 min read
It's a now-or-never situation for the Philippine women's national football team in its quest for a return trip to the World Cup.
The Filipinas' first attempt at an outright berth to the global showpiece ended with a humbling 7-0 loss to powerhouse Japan in the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup quarterfinals on Sunday, March 15, in Sydney, Australia.
Their second shot comes on Thursday, March 19, at Robina Stadium where head coach Mark Torcaso and his wards take on Uzbekistan in the play-in round for a direct ticket to Brazil next year.
A loss, however, would not mean the end of their journey. The Philippines or Uzbekistan, alongside the losing side between Chinese Taipei and North Korea, will become Asia's representatives in the inter-confederation play-offs set later this year.
While that's the case, the decisive match against the Uzbeks is a proverbial do-or-die for the reigning Southeast Asian Games champions.
That fixture is the culmination of the national team's preparations over the past year. More importantly, it will measure the depth of their dreams.
“We knew that this game [against Japan] will [either] get us to the World Cup directly, or if we lost, we have to focus on our next game,” Torcaso said in a post-match media conference, as quoted by Inquirer Sports. “We have a second chance, we are very positive and determined to get back to the World Cup.”
Make no mistake, though: Uzbekistan is no easy foe. Last year, the two-time Central Asian champion held the Philippines to a 2-2 draw in an international friendly. Like the Filipinas, the Uzbeks will give everything to confirm their place in the World Cup for the first time in their nation's history.
In 2022, the then-called Malditas became an unexpected revelation. They rewrote Philippine football history by securing the country's first-ever FIFA Women's World Cup appearance after reaching the Asian Cup semifinals.
With a taste of another quadrennial meet awaiting them, Torcaso and the rest of the team knew that such a chance shouldn't be taken for granted. As puzzle pieces fall into place, the finishing touches are all that remain for the Filipinas to do.
No more laters for the Filipinas. Qualifying for the World Cup is a job they need to get done now.
Comments