OPINION: History beckons for Filipinas with FIFA Women's World Cup spot at stake

It took two days, but the Philippines finally confirmed a place in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup, courtesy of being one of the two best ranked third placed teams of the tournament.

After beating Iran 2-0 in their final group-stage match, the Filipinas had to rely on either Uzbekistan or Japan’s results to go their way. In the end, it was Nadeshiko Japan’s 4-0 win over Vietnam that sealed the Philippines’ place in the knockout stages.

The Filipinas, along with their legion of fans, rooted for Japan not only to win but to score at least three goals to ensure the Philippines’ qualification through a superior goal difference.

In a twist of fate, it is that very same Japan team that the Philippines will face next to earn an outright slot in the semifinals — and a spot in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

And make no mistake, this Japan squad is loaded with talent from top to bottom and entered the tournament as one of the heavy title favorites.

English Women’s Super League side Manchester City currently sit comfortably atop the table in England, and that success is due in large part to their Japanese trio of Yui Hasegawa, Aoba Fujino, and goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita.

Add in Liverpool’s Fuka Nagano, Manchester United’s Hinata Miyazawa and veteran Saki Kumagai and you have a Japan side that has scored 17 goals so far while conceded none. 

Japan Coach Nils Nielsen ominously told the AFC website post-match: “I think we need to show that we can defend as well, not just attack. We’ll spend time on that in the coming days, and also work on improving our transition moments. At the same time, I hope we can continue creating as many chances as we are now when playing forward.”

Their lineup is littered with players competing in England’s top flight. They will be overwhelming favorites against the Philippines, but losing to them would not necessarily be the end of the road.

Should the Filipinas fail to overcome Nadeshiko Japan, the Philippines would have another shot at making the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup outright — by beating the winner of the South Korea-Uzbekistan quarterfinal.

But here is the million-dollar question: should the Philippines “concede” defeat to the 2011 World Cup champions and put their full focus on the next game, which may be against Uzbekistan?

After all, in order to book a place to Brazil 2027 the Filipinas need only win one of the next two games, and Uzbekistan, on paper at least, seem the more manageable game.

The answer, as always, is not so simple.

Beating a star-studded Japan will be very difficult, but it is never impossible. While it is true that they are very technically skilled on the ball, there is this notion that they may tend to struggle to impose their will against more physical opponents.

And in Hali Long and Jessika Cowart among others, the Philippines are no slouches in the physicality department, which may give them a glimmer of hope against Japan.

Also, who’s to say that our group stage tormentors South Korea are surely winning their match against Uzbekistan?

Tournament management has always been the Filipinas’ strengths in recent times, and fans expect the same for Coach Mark Torcaso. He and his coaching staff will have deliberated over this matter, and will surely pick their players accordingly. One week’s rest from the group stage match to the quarterfinal, albeit with travel from Gold Coast to Sydney, is a massive boost.

Fans have already seen the importance of Jackie Sawicki in the Filipinas’ midfield. If she’s not fully recovered from the Iran game, do they risk her playing huge minutes in the quarterfinal?

If the Japan game proves beyond the Filipinas, should Torcaso turn to his bench early and look ahead to the all-important next match? The answers to those questions will come soon enough.

This Filipinas squad boasts a pool of young players whose future seems limitless. But for some, this is realistically their last chance to qualify for and play in a FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Opportunities like these don’t come every day, and for the more senior members of the squad who were part of the 2023 edition it is important that they inspire and motivate the rest of the squad to rise to great heights and grab this golden chance.

The fans wait for the next game with bated breath.

For the Filipinas, history awaits, yet again.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News