Philippines needs upset win vs Norway for chance at Women’s World Cup KO round
The Philippines celebrate their victory following the Women’s World Cup Group A soccer match between New Zealand and Philippines in Wellington, New Zealand, Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alysa Rubin)
WELLINGTON, New Zealand—The Philippines has put itself in an unexpected position to possibly advance past the group stage of the Fifa Women’s World Cup following Tuesday’s 1-0 win over co-host New Zealand here.
Sarina Bolden, Olivia McDaniel and the rest of the Filipinas will have to produce a massive upset victory over pre-tournament Group A favorite Norway on Sunday in Auckland for a chance to qualify in the round-of-16 of women’s football’s grandest stage.
Article continues after this advertisementCoach Alen Stajcic’s side got some help from the result of the match between Switzerland and Norway which ended with a goalless draw.
That put Switzerland on top of Group A with four points, one clear of the Philippines and New Zealand after two matches each.
New Zealand, however, holds second place over the Philippines on goal difference while Norway is surprisingly at the bottom of the table with just a point to produce.
Article continues after this advertisementNorway and New Zealand face off, also on Sunday, in Dunedin and will have a similar 3 p.m. Manila time start as the Philippines-Norway match.
The two best teams in the group will progress to the knockout stages and face their counterparts from Group C, composed of Spain, Japan, Costa Rica and Zambia.
The Group A winner takes on the Group C runner-up, and vice-versa in Auckland and Wellington, respectively, on Aug. 5.
