Members of the Filipinas during the launch of its World Cup kits. –PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S FOOTBALL TEAM PHOTO
The Philippine women’s football team is scheduled to fly to New Zealand on Monday with the likelihood that the roster for the Fifa Women’s World Cup will be revealed soon.
Familiar names like Sarina Bolden, Hali Long, Quinley Quezada and Olivia McDaniel are expected to be included in the 23-player roster which the Filipinas are expected to announce within the next few days, with perhaps the only mystery being who among the least-heralded ones are going to get a crack at playing in the biggest showcase for women’s football.
Coach Alen Stajcic is in the final phase of the team’s training camp in Sydney, Australia, which began last month and some players have described the sessions as grueling given the timetable between now and the team’s opener against Switzerland on July 21.
Once in New Zealand, the team will be based in Auckland where the Filipinas’ training sessions resume prior the first Group A match.
A training match has been set against Sweden on July 17 in Wellington, with the team looking for one more friendly before the tournament starts.
The Filipinas will play Switzerland in Dunedin before going to Wellington for their July 25 meeting with host New Zealand.
They’ll then spend their final days of the group stage in Auckland for their July 30 match against Norway, considered as favorite to top the group.