PH women’s football team, now known as ‘Filipinas,’ begins World Cup build up

Philippine women’s football team celebrate win over Chinese Taipei that sent the country to the World Cup for the first time. PFF PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine women’s football team will be called “Filipinas” as it starts its build up for the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup.

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) announced that the women’s national team will go by the name “Filipinas” starting in its upcoming tournaments in Australia and New Zealand.

“It (“Filipinas”) is simple and nationalistic. Our athletes are Filipinas. They are strong-willed, determined, passionate and driven by the goal to represent not just themselves, but the country,” said team manager Jefferson Cheng.

“We trust that Filipino football fans will understand and support this decision.”

Cheng added that all relevant parties recognized that it was not appropriate to continue using their previous monicker, Malditas, as they set to make its historic World Cup debut.

The Filipinas, who rose to their highest ranking of No. 54 last Friday after they made history with a first ever semifinal finish and earn a World Cup berth in the AFC Asian Cup in India, arrived in Australia Wednesday to link up with coach Alen Stajcic and his staff for the Fifa window on the first week of April.

The Philippines is scheduled to play a couple of international friendlies against Fiji on April 7 and 11 in Sydney. The Filipinas will be in training camp in Sydney, where Stajcic is based, until early May, before flying to Hanoi, Vietnam for the 31st Southeast Asian Games.

“It is crucial that the team gets as much time as possible to prepare,” said Cheng, who has been serving as the Filipinas’ manager and sponsor since 2018. “We hope that the work put in on this camp will bring great results in the upcoming tournaments.”

PFF officials are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that the Filipinas, with the continuous support of Cheng, will continue to make history.

“Together with our team manager Jefferson Cheng, the PFF is here to make sure the team will go to every competition as well prepared and fit as possible,” said PFF president Mariano Araneta. “We look forward to seeing the Filipinas represent the country again when they return to action this April as they prepare for the SEA Games.”

“Our Filipinas realized the dream of every football fan in the country when they qualified for the Fifa Women’s World Cup,” added PFF general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes. “They will always have our all-out support.”