Despite missing World Cup hero Sarina Bolden, the Philippine women’s national football team completed a perfect group-stage run at the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers for a spot in the tournament proper in Australia.
It wasn’t the news the Philippine women’s national football team or its fans were hoping for Thursday, July 10.
The Filipinas’ World Cup goal scorer in Sarina Bolden revealed she sustained a ruptured ACL on April 2 and underwent surgery in May.
Bolden shared the update in an emotional Instagram post where she admitted that the injury “broke me in more ways than one.”
"There's really no preparing for the kind of pain that comes with an injury like this, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too. When the thing that's been your world for as long as you can remember is suddenly taken from you...it's hard to make sense of it," she added.
The 29-year-old striker explained that she is taking it "day by day" through what may be the toughest period of her football career.
"I’ve had time to process and to start healing, both physically and mentally, but I know this will be a long road, and I’m giving myself grace to take it day by day," she added.
Bolden missed the Philippines’ recent 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers stint where the squad swept Group G with victories against Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, and Hong Kong. The world no. 41 squad thus secured a direct berth to the tournament proper in Australia next year.
[ALSO READ: Undefeated Filipinas book return trip to AFC Women's Asian Cup with win over Hong Kong]
With that, she national team veteran sent her well wishes to the team, saying: ”Sending all my love and support to the Philippines Women’s National Team in the upcoming windows. I’ll be cheering you on every step of the way.”
[ALSO READ: Filipinas gain chance to compete for World Cup slot in Women’s Asian Cup: ‘We deserve to go back’]
Despite the setback, the Philippines' all-time leader in goals expressed her determination to return in the best possible way.
"And to anyone wondering: I'm not done. Far from it. I'll give everything I have to this game for as long as I can. I've always been fueled by setbacks, and I know this will be no different," she vowed.
Now she's looking for a hobby that "don't require two working knees." At least for the year.