After anxious wait, Filipinas reach AFC Women’s Asian Cup quarterfinals

MANILA, Philippines – The Filipinas’ bid to earn an outright berth in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup is still alive. 

After an anxious wait, the Philippines caught the last bus to the quarterfinals of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia after Japan gave Vietnam a 4-0 beating on Tuesday, March 10.

By virtue of Japan’s dominant win, the Philippines edged Vietnam in the tiebreaker and reached the last eight as one of the two best third-placed teams alongside Uzbekistan.

The Philippines (Group A), Uzbekistan (Group B), and Vietnam (Group C) finished with 1-2 records and 3 points each in their respective groups, but only Uzbekistan and the Philippines advanced with a superior goal difference of -2. 

Vietnam failed to make the cut with a -4 goal difference. 

It all worked out for the Filipinas, who lost 1-0 to host Australia on March 1 and 3-0 to South Korea on March 5 before they fashioned out a 2-0 win over Iran on Sunday, March 8, with Sara Eggesvik and Chandler McDaniel delivering the goals.

But it does not get easier for the Philippines as it runs into world No. 8 Japan in the quarterfinals on March 15 at Stadium Australia in Sydney.

Japan breezed through Group C, crushing its three opponents without conceding a goal.

The Filipinas have two chances at claiming one of the six World Cup seats up for grabs in the Asian Cup, the simplest being by defeating Japan and making the semifinals.

If the Philippines falls to Japan, it can still qualify through a knockout play-in match, where it will face the loser between South Korea and Uzbekistan for a spot in the World Cup. 

The Filipinas are eyeing their second World Cup appearance after their historic stint in the 2023 edition. – Rappler.com