Torcaso sets Filipinas’ World Cup plan after ranking rise

Philippine women’s national football team coach Mark Torcaso has set his sights on reaching the knockout stage of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after the Filipinas secured a second consecutive berth and climbed to No. 39 in the world rankings.

“Our objective is very clear: we are going to the World Cup to compete and not just participate. We will do what we can to get out of the group,” Torcaso said. “That means our preparation has to be deliberate and aligned with that ambition.”

Advancing from the group stage would mark another milestone for the Filipinas, who debuted at the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The Philippines recorded its first World Cup victory with a 1-0 upset of co-host New Zealand in 2023 but did not advance to the knockout round.

The Filipinas earned their return to the global tournament through the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia.

The Philippine Football Federation said the campaign was built around defensive discipline and situational execution against elite opponents, including host Australia and South Korea.

The Filipinas opened Group A with a narrow 1-0 loss to Australia before falling 3-0 to South Korea.

They recovered with a 2-0 victory over Iran to finish third in their group and advance as one of the tournament’s two best third-place teams.

After a 7-0 quarterfinal loss to Japan, the Philippines defeated Uzbekistan, 2-0, in a World Cup playoff at Gold Coast Stadium on March 19.

Angela Beard and Jaclyn Sawicki scored the second-half goals against Uzbekistan, with Jael Guy providing both assists to seal the country’s second straight World Cup appearance.

The Asian Cup campaign also helped the Filipinas rise two places to No. 39 in the FIFA women’s rankings.

The Philippines remained No. 39 in FIFA’s June 16 ranking update, one place below its all-time high of No. 38.

“We’re pretty proud of the FIFA ranking. Over the last couple of months, we’ve been working towards getting back in the top 40,” Torcaso commented. “That shows the commitment that everyone has put into this national team, not only in recent times, but over the last four to ten years. So we’re really excited by constantly moving up the rankings and we want to keep pushing more and more. 39 is not where we want to stop. We want to keep going.”

Torcaso said the World Cup preparation program would maximize every available FIFA international window beginning in June.

The schedule is designed to expose the Filipinas to opponents from different confederations and playing styles before the tournament in Brazil.

“From June onwards, we will maximize every FIFA window, expose the team to different styles across continents, and continuously raise our standards in both training and competition,” he added.

The 32-team World Cup will run from June 24 to July 25, 2027, across eight Brazilian host cities and will be the first edition staged in South America.

Torcaso said the program must also ensure that players remain physically and mentally prepared through consistent performances with their respective clubs.

“Proper preparation is not just about playing more games, it’s about having the players in the best possible condition, physically and mentally, and ensuring they are performing consistently at their clubs,” Torcaso explained. “We are building a program where every detail matters.”

The coach also credited the PFF’s investment in immediate preparations and the long-term development of the women’s national program.

Torcaso cited the team’s pre-Asian Cup training camp in Balesin as an example of the high-performance environment provided by the federation.

“Thanks to the PFF for their support of this national team for directly managing and providing resources like Balesin, and for advancing Philippine football as a whole. The Federation has ensured that this team is backed 100 percent in its preparation for the World Cup and the long-term vision of all our women’s teams. Our success in the SEAG and our qualification to the World Cup, are a clear reflection of that commitment, and the Federation plays a crucial role in giving the team the best possible environment to succeed.”

The Filipinas entered the Asian Cup after winning the country’s first SEA Games football gold medal in 2025.

The Philippines defeated defending champion Vietnam in a sudden-death penalty shootout in the final, completing a breakthrough regional campaign.

The PFF also identified Jael Guy, Nina Meollo, Alexa Pino, and Ari Markey as emerging players who showed their readiness on the continental stage.

Their integration alongside experienced internationals gives the program additional depth and continuity heading into 2027.

PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez said the national team’s progress reflected cooperation among the federation, coaches, players, and clubs.

“Our success is built on strong relationships with our players, our coaches, and the clubs that develop and support them every day,” Gutierrez said. “This balanced approach ensures that our Filipinas are not only prepared for the World Cup, but are consistently performing at the highest level year-round.”

With a structured preparation plan, continued federation support, and a growing talent pool, the Filipinas will now focus on improving upon their 2023 performance and competing for a place in the World Cup knockout stage in Brazil. (PFF)