Filipinas camp starts now: Manila, Balesin, Perth

The Philippine Football Federation has released the training pool for the Philippine Women’s National Football Team, the Filipinas, ahead of a February 2026 training camp in Manila, Balesin Island and Perth as the team’s final major preparation for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia.

The monthlong program will run throughout February with sessions scheduled at the SM Mall of Asia Sky Pitch and Rizal Memorial Stadium from Feb. 1–5 and Feb. 17–22.

The camp will then move to Balesin Island in Quezon province from Feb. 6–15 as part of the federation’s preparations.

The Filipinas will wrap up the February block in Perth from Feb. 24–28, placing the squad in Australia ahead of tournament play.

The camp comes as the Filipinas build on momentum as gold medalists of the 2025 Southeast Asian Games and prepare for a significantly higher level of competition at the continental championship.

In the Asian Cup draw, the Filipinas were grouped in Group A against 2023 World Cup semifinalist and host Australia, 2022 Asian Cup runner-up South Korea and 2022 CAFA Women’s Championship runner-up Iran.

The Filipinas’ Group A schedule is set in Philippine time, beginning with a meeting against Australia on March 1 at Perth Stadium at 5 p.m.

The Philippines will next face South Korea on March 5 at Gold Coast Stadium at 11 a.m.

The group stage concludes with the Filipinas playing Iran on March 8 at Gold Coast Stadium at 5 p.m.

PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez said the federation is backing the team’s campaign as it heads into its biggest pre-tournament block.

“This camp is an essential part of ensuring that the Filipinas enter the Asian Cup with the best possible preparation,” Gutierrez said during a press conference with the Philippine Sports Commission last Jan. 29.

Gutierrez said the Balesin leg is designed to combine recovery and focused work as the team shifts from SEA Games success to Asian Cup demands.

“We hit two birds with one stone. We get to reward the girls for some R&R (rest and recreation) because of their [SEA Games] performance and be totally secluded in [Balesin] island to prepare for AFC. So, [Alphaland] sponsored the plane fair and lodging,” Gutierrez added, referring to the Balesin Island developer Alphaland, one of the Filipinas’ newest sponsors.

Filipinas head coach Mark Torcaso said the objective of the camp is to raise the squad’s level as it prepares to face opponents stronger than those it encountered in the SEA Games.

“The players understand that we’re obviously going to a competition that is much tougher than the SEA Games. So now it’s about lifting our intensity, our quality, our fitness levels, our speed to be of another level higher than that and obviously to achieve the opportunity to go to another World Cup,” said Torcaso, who will coach in his first Asian Cup.

The goalkeepers named to the Filipinas’ February training camp pool are Olivia Alexandra McDaniel, Nina Andrea Meollo, Kiara Fabiola Fontanilla, Gabrielle Lyn Baker, Leah Parker Bradley and Isabelle Mapanao.

The field players named are Angela Rachael Beard, Janae Allana DeFazio, Carleigh Frilles, Ma. Meryll Krysteen Serrano, Kaya Hawkinson, Hali Moriah Long, Chandler Blue McDaniel, Jessika Rebecca Cowart, Isabella Pasion, Sofia Nicole Wunsch, Sara Kristine Eggesvik, Ava Jolina Villapando, Jaclyn Katrina Sawicki, Katrina Jacqueline Guillou, Katrina Jacqueline Guillou, Alessandrea Casimere Carpio, Paige McSwigan, Mary Louise Ramirez, Anicka Chabeli Castaneda, Alexa Marie Pino, Ariana Isabella Markey, Jourdyn Curran, Natalie Rae Oca, Malea Louise Cesar, Aaliyah Schinaman, Jael-Marie Guy and Aiselyn Marie Sia.

Following the February training camps, 26 players will be named to the final Asian Cup roster, with the coaching staff selecting the squad based on the best combination of experience and current form.