Filipinas set for training camp, international friendlies ahead of AFC Women’s Asian Cup

The Philippine women’s national football team, popularly known as the Filipinas, is gearing up for its next major international assignment—the prestigious Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup in Perth, Australia. After a historic performance in the SEA Games, the team is looking to build on its momentum and further solidify its position on the continental stage.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick Gregorio and Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president John Gutierrez recently held a joint press conference to outline the team’s preparations. The officials confirmed that the Filipinas will embark on a three-week training camp in Manila and Balesin Island before traveling to Australia, where they will face international competition and professional club sides to fine-tune their game.

“They will have a three-week camp in Manila and we invited Bangladesh for a tune-up game. On 23 February, they will fly to Perth and will go up against two professional clubs. The girls will arrive on 30 January and are expected to be complete by 1 February,” Gutierrez said.

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The training camp will not only focus on rigorous on-field drills but also provide the athletes with the opportunity to recover and recharge after their SEA Games success. The PFF has arranged for the team to train in Balesin, which boasts a FIFA-certified pitch—an ideal environment for high-level preparation.

𝗣𝗜𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗧𝗢 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬: 𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗣𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟 ⚽🥅

The constant progress and love of the country for Football is undeniably growing pitch by pitch across the nation—defining bright opportunities for our national and grassroots-level athletes. pic.twitter.com/CDXz12o73W

— Philippine Sports Commission (@psc_gov) January 30, 2026

“They have a very good league in Australia so these friendlies with two first-division teams will help the team in its preparation. Merong FIFA-certified field sa Balesin Island. Now we get to reward the girls for some rest and recreation after their win in the SEA Games and we totally seclude them in the island to prepare for the AFC,” Gutierrez added.

This approach highlights a blend of discipline and careful recovery. By giving the players both quality training and structured downtime, the PFF hopes the Filipinas will enter the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in peak physical and mental condition. Facing professional clubs in Australia is expected to expose the team to different playing styles and tactical challenges, providing invaluable experience ahead of the tournament.

Beyond preparing the current national team, the PFF and PSC are also focused on long-term development for women’s football in the country. The PFF plans to increase the number of football fields nationwide through grants provided by FIFA, the AFC, and the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), totaling approximately $3.7 million. These investments are expected to improve grassroots development, give young athletes better access to training facilities, and ensure the continued growth of women’s football in the Philippines.

“We are now closely coordinating with DepEd and all state universities and colleges. They have thousands of hectares of land but they do not have the funds to develop sports facilities,” Gregorio stated.

Gregorio also assured that the PSC would assist in identifying suitable sites to serve as new football fields and training centers. By working closely with educational institutions, the PSC and PFF aim to create a sustainable pipeline of talent that can benefit the national team for years to come.

With the Filipinas set to begin their training camp at the end of January, the eyes of Philippine football fans will be on Balesin and eventually Perth, as the team strives to translate its recent SEA Games success into strong showings on the continental stage. The combination of elite training, international friendlies, and enhanced infrastructure development signals a renewed commitment to raising the standard of women’s football in the country.

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