The Philippine women’s national football team knows it faces a daunting task against the world No. 15 Australia women’s national soccer team, but rising forward Mary Louise Ramirez believes the Filipinas are ready for the challenge.
Ramirez expressed confidence as the Filipinas prepared for their opening match in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026, set in Perth.
“The preparations have been really good. We’ve been training every day and competing,” said the 22-year-old Ramirez, shortly before the team arrived in Perth for their group stage campaign.
Ramirez, one of the newest attacking options for the Filipinas, brings both talent and pedigree. Her father, Joshua Ramirez, previously represented the Philippines men’s national basketball team, making national team duty a proud family tradition.
This marks Ramirez’s second stint with the national squad since her breakthrough performance in the Southeast Asian Games, where she delivered one of the tournament’s most memorable moments.
She scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner against defending champions Vietnam, rescuing the Philippines from elimination and reigniting their push toward the finals.
A kinesiology student and attacking midfielder for the UNLV Rebels, Ramirez hopes to once again provide a spark as the Filipinas aim to overcome the Matildas in Group A.
The Australians, who have long been among Asia’s strongest sides, enter the tournament with a proud history and home advantage. But the Filipinas arrive well-prepared, with head coach Mark Torcaso confident that his squad is ready to rise to the occasion.
