Members of the Filipinas during the launch of its World Cup kits. –PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S FOOTBALL TEAM PHOTO
The Philippine women’s football team will once again face a pair of familiar foes from last year’s Asian Cup when it competes in the second round of the Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in late October.
Coach Alen Stajcic’s squad was drawn in Group A alongside Australia and Chinese-Taipei, the team the Filipinas defeated to qualify for the Fifa Women’s World Cup via a dramatic penalty shootout.
Iran is the other team in the group where the Philippines hopes to emerge on top or become the best among the three second-placers to reach the third and final phase of the qualifier for next year’s Paris Olympics.
The second round takes place on Oct. 23 to Nov. 1 with the Group A matches to be played in Australia.
Australia got a bye while the Filipinas, Chinese-Taipei and Iran had to go through the first round of qualification which took place last month.
It was a breezy campaign for the Filipinas in the first stage of the qualifiers, dominating Pakistan, host Tajikistan and Hong Kong in Hisor after scoring 16 goals and conceding none.
The Filipinas lost to Australia, 4-0, in the group stage of the Asian Cup in India before defeating Chinese-Taipei for the aforementioned World Cup berth during the quarterfinals.
Iran had faced the Philippines only twice, the most recent being the Tokyo Olympic qualifier in April 2019, winning 2-0 in Doha, Qatar.