As the Philippines prepares for its 2023 Women’s World Cup berth, here are the Filipinas’ upcoming matches.
The Filipinas have a competitive and full schedule throughout the first half of the year, which will ultimately culminate in the much-awaited 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
With this, here are the Filipinas’ upcoming matches in the lead-up to the World Cup.
Pinatar Cup
The Filipinas’ first major tournament in 2023 is going to be a first for the team. It will be their first time competing in Europe.
“Competing in the Pinatar Cup is a great opportunity for the Filipinas to familiarize themselves with European teams ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup,” PFF president Mariano Araneta, Jr shared in a press statement.
The Pinatar Cup will start on February 15 in San Pedro del Pinatar in Murcia, Spain. There, the Filipinas are set to face higher-ranked European teams from Wales, Scotland, and Iceland. However, the Philippine team is the only team among the four who have already qualified for the 2023 World Cup.
As their first major tournament of the year, this will be a good benchmark for the Filipinas ahead of the World Cup.
READ: Filipinas set to compete in Pinatar Cup 2023
Olympic Qualifiers
Next up on the calendar is a major opportunity for the Filipinas. From April 3 to 11, the team will be competing in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, vying for a slot in Paris 2024.
Earlier this month, the Filipinas were drawn into Group E for the first round of the tournament. With this, they will be facing Hong Kong (77th in the world), Tajikistan (144th in the world), and Pakistan (160th in the world).
Meanwhile, the Philippine team currently sits 53rd in the world, making them the highest-ranking team in their group.
In the lead-up to the World Cup later this year, this will not only be an opportunity for the team to prepare, but it will also be yet another way for the Filipinas to make history for Philippine football.
READ: Filipinas set to face Hong Kong, Tajikistan, Pakistan in Olympic Qualifiers
Southeast Asian Games
In the last Southeast Asian Games, the Filipinas made history for the Philippines (again!). They reached the podium again after 37 years.
This year, the 32nd SEA Games will take place from May 5 to 17 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
As the final major tournament in their lead-up to the World Cup, this will be an important one for the Filipinas, as they will surely be hoping to build a streak and possibly even improve their previous result.
FIFA Women’s World Cup
The countdown to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is on, as it kicks off for the Filipinas on July 21.
In the group stage of the tournament, the Filipinas will be competing against Switzerland, New Zealand, and Norway. Of course, the Filipinas’ matches against these teams will be the biggest competitions of the team’s history, as this marks the Philippines’ first appearance on the World Stage.
READ: The Filipinas are facing these teams in the 2023 World Cup group stage
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