The Philippine women’s football team celebrates after booking a spot in the World Cup for the first time. PFF Photo
Hali Long and some of her Philippine National Women’s Football squad teammates took part in the physical flag-raising ceremony of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) early Monday, and singing the “Lupang Hinirang” is something they’d have to get used to as they represent the country in their sport’s grandest stage—the Fifa Women’s World Cup 2023.
“It will really be exceptional since it’s the first time that we will hear the national anthem being played in the World Cup,’’ said Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Nonong Araneta Jr.
Long, the team cocaptain, paid a courtesy call to PSC Chair Butch Ramirez and was joined by Inna Palacios, sisters Chandler and Olivia McDaniel, Anicka and Sara Castañeda and Camille Rodriguez at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
The PSC received the official endorsement of granting cash incentives from the PFF last week, which the PSC board of commissioners will take up for approval.
The cash bonus will reward the members of the squad for its historic run of reaching the semifinals of the 2022 Asian Football Confederation Women’s Asian Cup that led to a never-done-before trip to the World Cup.