World Cup-bound Filipinas name 23-player Asian Games squad

The Philippine women’s national football team will return to the Asian Games in September with a 23-player squad as the Filipinas use the continental tournament both to chase a medal and deepen their player pool ahead of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Filipinas will make their second consecutive appearance at Asia’s biggest multi-sport event after reaching the quarterfinals of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, three years ago.

This year’s campaign carries added significance because it comes six months after the Philippines secured a second straight FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance by defeating Uzbekistan in a playoff at the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup last March.

The qualification extended a historic period for Philippine women’s football after the Filipinas debuted at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 and recorded the country’s first victory at the tournament with a 1-0 upset of co-host New Zealand.

The 20th Asian Games in Japan will now give head coach Mark Torcaso another competitive platform to assess his options before the next World Cup.

The Philippines has been drawn into Group G with three-time Asian Games gold medalist China, Uzbekistan, and Hong Kong.

The top two teams from each group and the two best third-place finishers overall will advance to the quarterfinals.

China represents one of the Filipinas’ toughest tests in the group.

The Philippines last played China at the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Amman, Jordan, where the Filipinas suffered a 3-0 defeat.

The Filipinas faced Hong Kong more recently during the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers in Cambodia in July 2025.

The Philippines won that match 1-0.

Uzbekistan is also a familiar opponent after the Filipinas defeated the Central Asian side 2-0 in a 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification match during the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

Philippine Football Federation President John Anthony Gutierrez said the Asian Games campaign represents another milestone because the country will field both men’s and women’s football teams at the event for the first time.

“As one of the founding nations of the Asian Games, we recognize the deep prestige this Asian Games carries for our nation, and fielding both our men’s and women’s national teams for the first time is a milestone moment for Philippine football,” Gutierrez said. “We are giving this campaign our fullest support, ensuring both teams are equipped to compete with pride and purpose on this grand continental stage.”

The return of the men’s team adds another dimension to Philippine football’s participation in the 20th Asian Games after the country secured a place in the men’s competition earlier this year.

For the women’s side, however, Torcaso must navigate a tournament that falls outside the FIFA international window.

That scheduling means clubs are not generally obligated to release players for national-team duty, limiting the availability of some overseas-based Filipinas.

Torcaso acknowledged that constraint while emphasizing the difficulty of every group in the tournament.

“If I look at the groupings, I think all the groups are tough groups in their own individual ways. I think our group is a tough group,” Torcaso said. “We’ve got Hong Kong, who we narrowly beat to qualify for the Asian Cup as well, who are also a very good team, and we also know how good China is.”

China also gives Torcaso his first opportunity as Filipinas coach to test the squad against one of the region’s established powers.

“We haven’t played China ever since I’ve been here. China is a great team and it gives us a chance to play against a very, very good team,” he said. “But again… this Asian Games is also about preparing us for the World Cup.”

The absence of some regular players will create openings for younger and less-established members of the national-team pool.

That makes the Asian Games particularly important in the longer process of determining which players could challenge for places in the 2027 World Cup squad.

“[In this] Asian Games, [we] have a few players unavailable as it’s outside of the FIFA window, and we will use this opportunity to continue to test our young players and give opportunities to players to announce themselves on the national stage,” Torcaso said. “We want to give a chance for every player to be an option for next year’s World Cup. We will use this Asian Games as one of these options.”

Despite the developmental element, Torcaso said the Filipinas are approaching the tournament with competitive ambitions.

“We want to advance as a group. We want to go as far as we can in this competition. We want to enjoy success,” he said. “It’s as important as the Southeast Asian Games [where] we won gold. Our opportunity to win a medal or to go as far as possible is a reality here as well.”

Torcaso also welcomed the opportunity for both Philippine national teams to compete in Asian Games football.

“A big thank you to the Philippine Football Federation, President John Gutierrez, General Secretary Gelix Mercader for undertaking the processes for us to play in these tournaments,” he said. “We have two teams this year, our men’s team as well as our women’s team. Support us and we will do our best to represent the country proud.”

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

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

The Philippines will close 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 listed in Philippine Standard Time.

The Asian Games also gives several veterans another opportunity to lead the squad, including goalkeeper Olivia Alexandra McDaniel, defender Hali Moriah Long, midfielder Jaclyn Katrina Sawicki, and Katrina Jacqueline Guillou.

McDaniel was part of the Philippines’ breakthrough 2023 World Cup campaign and was named player of the match after helping preserve the historic 1-0 victory over New Zealand.

The Filipinas’ 23-player roster for the 2026 Asian Games is:

Goalkeepers: Olivia Alexandra McDaniel, Nina Andrea Meollo, and Gabrielle Ann Rourke.

Defenders: Hali Moriah Long, Kaya Hawkinson, Azumi Oka, Reina Gabriela Bonta, Aiselyn Marie Sia, Sofia Nicole Wunsch, and Jourdyn Curran.

Midfielders: Isabella Pasion, Jaclyn Katrina Sawicki, Katrina Jacqueline Guillou, Tea Pidding, Carleigh Frilles, Camryn Penn, Skye Leach, and Megan Murray.

Forwards: Mary Louise Ramirez, Dionesa Tolentin, Natalie Collins, Angela Rachael Beard, and Alessandrea Casimere Carpio. (PFF)