The Philippine Football Federation is pulling out all the stops to guarantee a truly memorable campaign by the women’s national football team in its first ever trip to the FIFA World Cup.
A series of friendlies here and overseas have been lined up by the PFF for the Filipinas as part of their grand build up for the July 20 to August 20 tournament to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand next year.
The team of coach Alen Stajcic just concluded two friendlies with Costa Rica last week, and a lot more is in the pipeline for the Philippines as it warms up for a historic campaign that would have to be funded for a pricey budget of $2 to $3 million.
“Match fitness kasi ang hinahanap natin. So the more matches for them the better,” said PFF President Mariano ‘Nonong’ Araneta in the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday. “We never imagined to be in the World Cup. But here we are. So we just have to prepare the team well.”
This developed as PFF Secretary-General Atty. Ed Gastanes also disclosed during the same session that the Philippines has been selected as among the stops of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour by next year.
“We have received notice the Philippines is part of the Trophy Tour of the Women’s World Cup 2023,” said Gastanes, who joined Araneta in the session presented by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Amelie Hotel Manila, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.
The PFF is looking to play at least a minimum of 10 friendlies, according to Gastanes, adding the Filipinas will be playing a South American country for two matches by next month.
“We cannot inform you the name of the country yet, because we have stipulated that we will announce it jointly. But it’s a South American country, it has been in the World Cup, and it’s been to the Tokyo Olympics,” Gastanes said.
During the official draw held last week in Auckland, the Filipinas were drawn in Group A along with Norway, Switzerland, and host New Zealand.
Mariano believes the Filipinas have a ‘fighting chance.’
“We’re happy with the draw. We’ll move forward from this kung ano pa ang dapat nating i-prepare,” said the PFF chief.
The Philippines is one of five countries that will be seeing action in the World Cup for the first time, and the PFF vows tomake the most of the opportunity no matter how tall the odds are.
“A win in the World Cup is something. And that’s what we want the team to have, a winning attitude,” said Mariano.
“If we survive the Round of 32, then we move to the Round of 16, and that itself is an excellent achievement for a first timer in the World Cup,” Gastanes added.