The Philippines’ bid for a repeat run to the World Cup will go through the Group of Death. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Coach Mark Torcaso could only react in disbelief after the Filipinas were drawn in a tough Group A of next year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia.
The Filipinas will face the host nation, South Korea and then Iran in the initial phase of the continental tournament in March, which also serves as the final regional qualifier for the Fifa Women’s World Cup.
They open their campaign on March 1 against Australia in Perth, followed by South Korea on March 5 and Iran three days later in Gold Coast.
One thing that could make it difficult for the Philippines to secure a top two finish is the recent results with South Korea and Australia.
South Korea beat the Philippines, 2-0, in the semifinals of the 2022 Asian Cup before being handed 3-0 and 2-1 defeats in two friendlies in 2024.
Australia, known as the Matildas, downed the Filipinas, 4-0, in the group stage of the 2022 Asian Cup before handing the Philippines a horrid 8-0 trashing in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 2023.
The Filipinas prevailed over Iran, 1-0, also in the same Olympic qualifier.
The Philippines can still progress if it can emerge the best two among the three third placers after the group stage.
In Group B are defending champion China, returning North Korea, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan while Group C has Japan, Vietnam, Chinese-Taipei and India.
The quarterfinal winners will be assured of berths in the 2027 World Cup to be held in Brazil, while the losers meet in a pair of playoff matches to determine the other two slots.
The losers of play-in matches will be relegated to the inter-confederation playoffs.
Meanwhile, Otu Banatao received the Rising Star award for his role in the Philippines’ fourth-place finish in the Asean U-23 Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Banatao scored twice during the competition that saw the Philippines reach the semifinals before losing to Vietnam, 2-1.
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The Philippines also fell to Thailand, 3-1, in a match for third place.