THE Philippine national women’s football team punched a ticket to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, after blanking Uzbekistan, 2-0, on Thursday, during the play-in action of the 2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup at the Cbus Super Stadium in Robina, Australia.
Despite the rainy weather, veteran campaigners Angela Beard and Jacklyn Sawicki gave the Philippines its goals in the match.
Beard gave the team its first goal at the 47th minute and Sawicki found the net five minutes later.
This is considered a milestone win for the Philippines, since the White Wolves have won three of their previous four matches with the Filipinas since 1997, while a friendly game last October at the Rizal Memorial Stadium ended in a 2-all draw.
Following the victory, the country will advance in next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, which is set in Brazil, joining early qualifiers Japan, Australia, China, Chinese Taipei, Japan and South Korea.
It will be the country’s second appearance in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, after qualifying in 2023.
Despite going 1-2 in the group stage and losing to Japan 7-0 in the quarterfinals, the Filipinas advanced to the play-in where they scored a crucial win against Uzbekistan.