Fifa hopes Filipinos join World Cup ‘big party’

Present during the unveiling of the Fifa Women’s World Cup trophy were (from left) Philippine Football Federation secretary general Ed Gastanes, Australia ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu, New Zealand ambassador to the Philippines Peter Kell and Fifa marketing director Sarah Gandoin. —JONAS TERRADO.

Fifa (International Federation of Association Football) is looking forward to seeing the Philippine women’s football team and its supporters relish the experience of being a first-time participant in the Women’s World Cup.

“This is really the tournament of the first timers,” said Fifa marketing executive Sarah Gandoin, who also oversees the Women’s World Cup trophy tour which made its stop in the country on Wednesday.

“We’re really excited to put together this big party, and hope that as many Filipinos are gonna be able to go there and celebrate [the team’s] historic qualification,” added Gandoin during the unveiling of the gold-plated trophy at Fairmont Hotel in Makati City.

Gandoin, along with key officials led by Philippine Football Federation secretary general Ed Gastanes, Australia ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu and her New Zealand counterpart Peter Kell, were the main guests of the third stop of the trophy tour, which also featured an event held before shoppers and football fans at nearby Glorietta Activity Center.

“This is effectively our biggest Fifa Women’s World Cup trophy tour ahead of what is the biggest Fifa Women’s World Cup ever,” Gandoin said. “We’re gonna visit the 32 qualifying countries with the trophy with the aim of building excitement and really getting fans the opportunity to get up close with the trophy.”

Members of the Filipinas were also on hand to give themselves a first-hand view of the trophy that will be contested in Fifa’s global showpiece that will be cohosted by Australia and New Zealand.

The Filipinas are coming off a campaign in the Pinatar Cup in Murcia, Spain, dropping all three matches against Wales, Scotland and Iceland and taking home lessons they will look to apply with a few months left before heading to New Zealand for the World Cup.