GOLD COAST, Queensland—The Philippine national women’s football team’s breakthrough stint in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup should serve as inspiration for the current squad as it prepares for a pivotal Group A encounter in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026.
Filipinas head coach Mark Torcaso emphasized the importance of leaning on that experience following South Korea’s commanding 3-0 victory over Iran on Monday at the Cbus Super Stadium.
The Koreans, known as the Taeguk Ladies, showcased their quality in their tournament opener, making them a formidable opponent as the Filipinas went through a closed-door training session to fine-tune their tactics.
“They got their first win by defending well and getting their first goal from Sarina Bolden. So the fight and character is well into this group. They know how to defend and stay disciplined,” said Torcaso.
The Filipinas face South Korea at 11 a.m. Thursday (Manila time), aiming to rebound from a narrow 0-1 setback to the Australia women’s national soccer team.
South Korea drew first blood through Choe Yu-ri’s strike in the 37th minute before Kim Hye-ri and Ko Yoo-jin sealed the victory with second-half goals in the 59th and 75th minutes.
Korean coach Colin Bell (Note: If Shin is intended, clarify identity) acknowledged the win but stressed the need for sharper finishing.
“I’d like to thank all my players as we achieved victory, but we need to be more clinical. I am a bit disappointed today. Our players were quite nervous because this was our first match,” he said.
What makes the Taeguk Ladies particularly dangerous is their blend of experience and technical precision. They dominated possession at 79 percent and limited Iran to just three attempts on goal, pressing relentlessly and dictating the tempo throughout the match.
For the Filipinas, the challenge will be to match that discipline and intensity—and to once again draw from the resilience that carried them onto the world stage just three years ago.
