Filipinas star Sarina Bolden is a big supporter of the Filipina5 as the Philippine women’s futsal team make their own mark in the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup.
No less than Filipinas FIFA Women’s Football World Cup goal scorer Sarina Bolden supported the Philippine women’s futsal team, commonly known as the Filipina5, as they scored their first-ever goals in the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup on Monday.
The historic first goals were courtesy of Indan Tolentin and Cathrine Graversen during a close 3-2 loss to Morocco.
Bolden, who is back to join the Filipinas in their November window after recovering from injury, counted herself among the biggest fans of the team, cheering along with the home crowd for the Futsal World Cup.
[RELATED: Skipper Inday Tolentin far from satisfied after scoring first Filipina5 goal in FIFA Futsal World Cup]
Even as the Filipina5 squandered their early lead against Morocco, Bolden said that the gravity of the accomplishment was nothing to be ashamed of.
“I’m really proud, like, they’re doing incredible things, they’re doing it in front of the whole country, in front of the home crowd, family, friends, brothers, sisters, aunts, titas, titos, you know, what have you,” Bolden told the media.
“So that’s like, definitely, really a personal and huge thing to do especially on a big stage like a World Cup.”
Bolden herself knows the magnitude of playing in a stage as big as the World Cup, leading the Filipinas in their 2023 bid where she scored the resounding header that allowed the Philippines to beat New Zealand, 1-0.
But even if the results varied between the Filipinas and their futsal counterparts, Bolden knows it’s just the beginning.
“What we’ve put up is really amazing — regardless of what the outcome was, I’m really proud of everyone,” she said.
Bigger things to come
It’s not just the Filipina5 themselves, though, where the future seems bright.
Bolden sees the current hosting of the Philippines as a doorway to similar opportunities in the future — with both football and futsal rising through the ranks in the consciousness of Filipinos, bringing world class events can only amplify this growing love.
“I think it’s really important, it definitely sets the tone to see in the future, having other events such as World Cups being held in the future, men’s, women’s,” said Bolden.
“So I hope this just kind of gets things started and shows the rest of the world that we are capable, the Philippines is capable of hosting such big World Cups under FIFA so I feel like it’s a good precursor for what’s to come,” she added.
Just this year, the Philippines hosted multiple world events, including the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship, while the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championship also just concluded in Newport in Pasay.
With sports tourism continuing to be one of the biggest motivators for the Philippine government to host events, there’s high likelihood that world class tournaments will continue to open itself up for Philippine teams.
(With reports from Gillian Trinidad)
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.