The Philippine women’s national football team is vying for a podium finish — and even gold — when they compete in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
The last time the Filipinas had brand new kits, they made history in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.
And now, they’re eyeing the same.
Having launched their new 2025-26 football kits with popular sports brand adidas, the Filipinas are hoping that new threads mean new records broken — and with the Southeast Asian Games just around the corner, the timing is perfect.
With only two podium finishes to their name in program history in the SEA Games, most recently a bronze in the 2022 edition in Hanoi, the Filipinas hope for new found glory in Thailand.
Flaunting a more complete lineup this time around, the Filipinas are hopeful for their results.
[READ: Fit-again Sarina Bolden rejoins Filipinas as SEA Games approach]
“I think right now we're doing our best, we're working hard.” Filipinas keeper Inna Palacios told
One Sports.
“We're really working on our fitness and how we want to play in SEA Games. We know that there's a lot at stake and we want to make up for it from last SEA Games. Hopefully, this is going to be a good season for us,” she added.
The new kits were launched at the first-ever adidas Football Store in Southeast Asia, which opened last week at MOA Sky in Pasay City.
Two colorways were introduced which still incorporated the Filipinas’ branding.
“I think it's long overdue so everyone's very happy with the new kits right now. Everyone's excited to wear them,” said Palacios.
“We're very excited to show them off and play with pride with everything we've got.”
The Law of Attraction
Among the new features on the kits are gold streaks, with the new collection also framing the World Cup team as “royalty”.
For Palacios, she hopes that it foreshadows something bigger: the top step on the SEA Games podium.
“Especially with the Gold Touch, hopefully that's attracting something special,” she said.
Still, it’s easier said than done for the Filipinas who will face off with familiar foes in their group play. They are grouped in Group B, coincidentally against the same foes they played against in the 2023 edition of the SEA Games in Cambodia—Vietnam, Myanmar, and Malaysia.
Only the top two make it to the knockout stage.
With their early exit in 2023 looming in their minds, Palacios hopes they’re able to make up the difference this time around.
“We're learning from last time. We know what to expect.” she said.
“We know the kind of fight that they're going to give us. We know what kind of fight we're going to give them as well.” she added.
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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.