With key players absent, the Philippine national women’s football team is set to compete in the qualifiers for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup.
World Cup veterans Sarina Bolden and Quinley Quezada will miss the tournament due to injuries. Coach Mark Torcaso confirmed their absence, stating that both players needed time to recover.
“One suffered a minor injury in the last camp, while the other has been dealing with a recurring issue that required close monitoring over the past few weeks,” Torcaso explained.
The qualifiers will take place from June 29 to July 5 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The Filipinas have been drawn into a group alongside Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, and Cambodia.
Torcaso emphasized that Bolden and Quezada will remain with their respective clubs for rehabilitation.
“We felt it was best for them to stay with their clubs and continue their rehab in a familiar environment. Unfortunately, Quinley Quezada was also not selected after sustaining a knee injury in the last camp,” he said.
Bolden currently plays for Como FC in Italy, while Quezada is with the Manila Diggers.
The winner of the group will secure a spot in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, set to be hosted in Australia.
Ranked 41st in the FIFA rankings, the Philippines is coming off a historic first-ever Women’s World Cup appearance in 2023. The Filipinas enter the competition as the top seed in their group.