Filipinas Set for Dubai Friendlies, Camp

The Philippine women’s national football team is heading to Dubai for an international training camp, where they will face the United Arab Emirates in a pair of friendlies on April 4 and 8 as part of preparations for a busy 2025 competition calendar.

Twenty-four players have been called up by head coach Mark Torcaso, including three newcomers eager to make their mark on the national team.

Team captain Hali Long leads a veteran core that includes World Cup standouts Olivia McDaniel, Angela Beard, Katrina Guillou, and Sara Eggesvik.

Maz Pacheco, currently with English Women’s Super League club Aston Villa, returns to the squad for her second international call-up.

New faces include Madison Ayson, who plays for Canberra United in Australia’s A-League Women; Paige McSwigan of the University of North Florida; and Aliana Weibel, a Kent State Soccer commit.

Conspicuously absent from the lineup are World Cup goal-scorer Sarina Bolden and midfielder Jackie Sawicki, both of whom have been mainstays in recent tournaments.

The UAE, currently ranked 112th by FIFA, will host the Filipinas, who sit 41st in the world rankings following their historic World Cup debut in 2023.

“The Dubai camp is another step forward for the squad,” the Philippine Football Federation said, underscoring the friendlies as key tune-ups ahead of major tournaments this year.

The Filipinas are set to defend their MSIG Serenity Cup title, while also preparing for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers and the Southeast Asian Games.

The series of competitions is expected to test the squad’s depth and development, as the team continues to blend overseas-based players with local talents and collegiate standouts.

The camp also marks the continued evolution of the Filipinas’ program, which has gained international attention for its rapid rise in Asian football.

Following their World Cup campaign and regional success, the Dubai friendlies serve as a strategic checkpoint for player evaluation, tactical adjustments, and team cohesion.