PFF praises the Filipinas resilience after quarterfinal finish at the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup

The Philippine women’s national football team saw its campaign in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup come to an end in the quarterfinals following a tough 7–0 loss to Asian powerhouse Japan women’s national football team on Sunday, March 15 at Stadium Australia.

Facing one of the strongest sides in the global women’s game, the Filipinas struggled to contain Japan’s relentless attack, with the former champions demonstrating their depth and quality throughout the match. Despite the heavy defeat, the Philippine side showed moments of resilience against a team widely regarded as among the elite in international football.

While the quarterfinal loss ended the Filipinas’ bid for the continental title, their journey in the tournament is not yet finished. The team will now shift its attention to a crucial play-in match against the Uzbekistan women’s national football team for a spot in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Brazil.

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Following the match, Philippine Football Federation president John Anthony Gutierrez commended the team for its determination and fighting spirit throughout the competition, emphasizing that the Filipinas’ performances have inspired fans back home.

“The Filipinas delivered a campaign that every Filipino can be proud of, fighting bravely against three of the best teams in Asia in Australia, Korea Republic, and Japan. They definitely showed the character that defines our national team,” Gutierrez said.

𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘 🏁

A tough experience battling Japan, but the quest for the World Cup is not over. We play on against Uzbekistan on Thursday’s Play-In.

🇯🇵 7-0 🇵🇭 #LabanFilipinasParaSaBayan #WeGoAgain #JPNvPHI #WAC2026 pic.twitter.com/8KHyge8UJ6

— Philippine Women’s National Football Team (@PilipinasWNFT) March 15, 2026

“While Japan proved their elite class today, our World Cup dream remains alive and we now move forward with determination as the Filipinas prepare for the play-in match against Uzbekistan,” he added.

Head coach Mark Torcaso echoed similar sentiments, praising the effort and resilience shown by his players despite the difficult result against one of the world’s top-ranked teams.

“We don’t want to lose any game that we play, but we also understand we were playing against probably one of the best teams in the world. I’m extremely proud of the girls and the effort they put in tonight,” Torcaso stated.

The Australian tactician also highlighted the level of competition the Filipinas faced during the tournament, noting that the team battled several of the continent’s strongest sides.

“It’s not publicized enough that the Philippines have played three of the best teams in Asia, and I believe probably three of the best teams in the world as well. We have done a really good job competing against them, and those experiences have helped put us in a position where will still have a chance to qualify for the World Cup,” he added.

With their focus now shifting to the decisive play-in fixture, Torcaso and the Filipinas will prepare for a crucial showdown against Uzbekistan scheduled for Thursday at Gold Coast Stadium. A victory in the match would keep the Philippines’ hopes alive of qualifying for a second consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance.

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