Filipinas target deeper Asian Games run in Japan

The Philippine Women’s National Football Team is setting its sights on another competitive Asian Games campaign as the Filipinas prepare to face Uzbekistan, Hong Kong, and powerhouse China in the women’s football tournament in Japan.

The women’s football competition begins Sept. 14 and is scheduled through Oct. 2, while the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 officially runs from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4.

Beyond pursuing a medal, the tournament gives the Filipinas an important competitive platform to test younger and newer players as they build toward the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The Philippines has already qualified for its second straight Women’s World Cup after beating Uzbekistan 2-0 in an Asian qualifying playoff in March, making the Asian Games part of a longer preparation cycle for the global tournament.

Philippine Football Federation President John Gutierrez emphasized the team’s commitment as it heads to a second consecutive Asian Games and World Cup stint.

“The Filipinas have put in the hard work to give themselves another competitive campaign at the Asian Games, and we are hopeful they can push for a deep run once again,” Gutierrez said.

“We thank all the players—in the active roster and the reserve list—who participated in the camp, the coaching staff, the government led by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, our corporate sponsors GoTyme Bank, Adidas, AIA, 2GO, Studio 300, Sip, and Sip+ for providing the Filipinas the best preparation possible, and of course, the loyal fans who braved today’s rain to cheer for our Filipinas as they embark in this journey to Asia’s grandest sporting stage,” Gutierrez continued.

The Filipinas made their Asian Games debut at the 19th edition in Hangzhou, China, in 2023.

They reached the quarterfinals in their first appearance in the continental multi-sport event.

Head coach Mark Torcaso said the team’s send-off match provided a strong final tune-up before its departure for Japan.

“This game was prepared obviously just as a farewell and obviously for us to come here and see the fans and see you guys and talk to you guys,” Torcaso said. “The girls have been fantastic [during the camp], so we are looking forward to tomorrow and getting to Japan.”

The Asian Games also represents a full-circle moment for Torcaso, whose first assignment with the national team came at the previous edition.

“I think this is a little bit different from when I first started because for me it was new for the team to have a new coach,” he said. “Now that I’ve been here for three years understanding what Filipino football is about, the players are about, this is a different Asian Games for us.”

Torcaso said the tournament forms part of the broader buildup to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Several regular starters are unavailable because the Asian Games falls outside the FIFA international window, limiting clubs’ obligation to release players for national-team duty.

“We want to try and be better than we were at the last Asian Games, which was quarterfinalist, but we also understand it’s out of the FIFA window, we have a lot of players unavailable, and we’re going to test a lot of our young players and new players,” he said. “We’re really using the Asian Games as an opportunity for our team to grow, to be ready for the World Cup.”

The situation gives Torcaso and his staff an opportunity to evaluate emerging players under tournament conditions while maintaining the team’s goal of surpassing its 2023 quarterfinal finish.

Following the Asian Games, the Filipinas will head to a training camp in Peru in October.

Torcaso described the coming stretch as critical to the team’s World Cup preparations.

“For us it’s about the next block of four to five weeks,” he said. “It’s almost like what a World Cup campaign could be like if we’re playing three, four, five, six games in a tournament. Peru is going to be a fantastic opportunity because the altitude is going to be extremely high, and it tests us potentially like what Brazil could be like.”

The Filipinas open their Group G campaign against Uzbekistan on Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. Philippine Standard Time.

They next face Hong Kong on Sept. 17 at 6 p.m.

The Philippines closes the group stage against China on Sept. 21 at 3 p.m.

All three matches will be played at Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium, with kickoff times reflected in Philippine Standard Time. (PFF)