Australian head coach Mark Torcaso wants to help the Filipinas qualify for their second straight FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Philippine women’s national football team faces unfamiliar territory in the coming months as they prepare for the upcoming 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia.
Their entry to the Asian Cup comes with expectations of making it into another FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Unlike their bid in India back in 2022, the Filipinas have since shown their brilliance in making it in the biggest stage of women's football, where they dazzled in New Zealand back in 2023 — notching a historic win against the host country thanks to Sarina Bolden’s resounding header.
Now, things are a little bit different with the mindset of both their opponents and their supporters.
For one, the opponents are already aware of how dangerous the Filipinas can be and will undoubtedly prepare for the best that the country can offer.
Among those wary of the Filipinas are the Matildas themselves, who head coach Mark Torcaso said were a little less than delighted to be grouped against the Philippines in the group stage of next year’s regional competition.
“It was exciting to be honest to be in the room with all the countries, obviously, vying for a spot in the group stage. I know a lot of the coaches, the Chinese coach is Australian, the Australia is Australian and we were talking about who we were going to get,” Torcaso said during the team's send-off for the MSIG Serenity Cup.
“I think I was more excited about getting Australia than he was because he thinks that we’re a dangerous team and I believe we’re a dangerous team. I’m not entirely worried about the opponents, the ones in our group. I think if we focus on ourselves, we can go to another World Cup,” he added.
Though Torcaso wasn’t with the program at the time the Filipinas qualified and went to the World Cup, with compatriot Alen Stajcic still leading the helm at that point, there is little doubt for the head tactician that his players have what it takes.
Even as injuries hit star players like Bolden and Katrina Guillou, there is unwavering faith from Torcaso that the team will do everything in their power to get into another World Cup — regardless of how the circumstances have changed.
“We’re not looking at the last spot, the second last spot, or third last spot. We wanna go to any spot that’s gonna get us to a World Cup and our focus is to get out of the group first and we’re gonna make sure we’re gonna give ourselves every chance to do that."
"We’re gonna have the best preparation that we possibly can. We’re gonna make sure our players are playing at the highest level outside of national team football. We’re gonna make sure that there are good clubs to prepare themselves in,” said Torcaso.
“As much as our fans and you guys, the media, want to go back to the World Cup, that’s what I want. I want to bring this team to the World Cup. They deserve to go again. They worked really hard. They’ve gone through some ups and downs in the last six to 12 months but they’re always fighting, and they’ve brought us into another Asian Cup and they’re gonna get us to another World Cup. I truly believe in them,” he added.
The Women’s Asian Cup will have a total of six outright slots for the World Cup, with the top two of each group qualifying directly for the competition. Meanwhile, two slots will also be given for the inter-confederation playoffs which will be the last chance to qualify.
“We as a staff believe in them and I know the country believes in them and we’re gonna do everything possible to make sure we’re gonna get there again,” said Torcaso.
But first, the Filipinas will be eyeing a successful title defense at the MSIG Serenity Cup this week in Vietnam where they face the Australia U-23 side along with Myanmar and Timor-Leste in the group phase.
[READ: Filipinas target MSIG Serenity Cup title defense with youthful squad in Vietnam]
The Philippines is also grouped with Australia — a senior team — in the Women’s Asian Cup along with South Korea and Iran.
“I’d anticipate that some of the girls that are in the U-23 Australian team will probably be eligible or available for the Asia Cup team in March, so it’s a good gauge for them but it’s also a really good gauge for us,” said Torcaso.
“I think we’ll have a younger team than the Australian team actually will. I’m really excited by that game. Because it’s gonna showcase where we’re at and where our national team players are at — in particular our youth players."
"I’m really excited by that. I know the coaching staff is really excited by that and I know that they’ll perform, and they’ll be passionate and they’ll play passionate for the country,” he added.
The Filipinas begin their bid at the MSIG Serenity Cup on Thursday, August 7, when they face Timor Leste.