The Filipinas need to work on a lot of things to create a memorable stint in next year’s World Cup. —AFF PHOTO
The Philippine women’s football team will keep its place in the lowest pot for the Fifa (International Federation of Association Football) Women’s World Cup draw after maintaining its hold on No. 53 in the latest world rankings released Thursday night (Manila time).
That put an end of the team’s hopes of dealing with one less heavyweight in the group stage of the biggest football showcase for women.
The team took part in three friendlies in a bid to make a significant jump up the world ranking and into Pot 3, but two losses and a draw gave the Filipinas minimal increase in points. The women’s team now has 1,483.06 ranking points, up by just 3.15 points from previous tabulations last August.
That meant that coach Alen Stajcic will be in Pot 4—composed of the lowest ranked nations that secured World Cup spots and three intercontinental playoff winners—ahead of the World Cup draw slated Oct. 22 in Auckland, New Zealand.
The updated tally came a day after the Filipinas wrapped up a pair of friendlies in Costa Rica where they played a 1-1 tie and lost, 2-1, to the Las Ticas in San Jose.
“I believe we competed well against an experienced World Cup opponent,” Stajcic said after the two friendlies, though lamenting that more work needs to be done in the months leading up to the World Cup.
“It’s clear we need to improve the technical part of our game. The team showed great heart, commitment and discipline which we are pleased with excellent experience overall playing a Latin American country for the first time ever, and proving once again that we are constantly working hard and improving for the upcoming World Cup.”
Cohosts New Zealand and Australia, along with two-time holders United States, Sweden, Germany, Euro 2022 champion England, France and The Netherlands are in Pot 1.
Canada, Copa America champion Brazil, Spain, Japan, Norway, Italy, Asian Cup winner China and Denmark are in Pot 2 while Pot 3 has South Korea, Switzerland, Colombia, Ireland, Argentina, Vietnam, Costa Rica and Jamaica.