Philippines grouped with South Korea, Myanmar, Hong Kong in Asian Games

Philippines players pose for a group photo before the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women’s World Cup Group A football match between the Philippines and Switzerland at Dunedin Stadium in Dunedin on July 21, 2023. (Photo by Sanka Vidanagama / AFP)

AUCKLAND, New Zealand—The Philippines was drawn alongside Fifa Women’s World Cup campaigner South Korea and two familiar foes in Group E of the Hangzhou Asian Games in late September,

Myanmar and Hong Kong are the other teams in the group which the Filipinas will face for their first major campaign after the ongoing World Cup here.

A total of 17 teams will take part in the pandemic-delayed Asian Games, with the Philippines looking to use the FIFA World Cup experience to put up a medal finish.

The five group winners and three best second-place teams will advance to the quarterfinals.

Fellow World Cup teams Japan, host China, last year’s Women’s Asian Cup winner, and Vietnam are among those taking part in the event.

China is in Group A with Uzbekistan and Mongolia while Japan and Vietnam are in Group D to take on Nepal and Bangladesh.

Thailand, Chinese-Taipei and India are in Group B even as North Korea makes its return to a major competition by competing against Singapore and Cambodia in Group C.

The Filipinas have scores to settle against South Korea and Myanmar from tournaments held in the 18 months leading up to the World Cup.

It was South Korea that ended the Philippines’ dream run in the 2022 Asian Cup, the tournament that sealed the country’s World Cup spot with a semifinal loss.

Myanmar, meanwhile, sneaked out a 1-0 win over the Filipinas in the opener of this year’s Cambodia Southeast Asian Games after a late penalty, a result that eventually eliminated them from semis contention.

Hong Kong was beaten handily by the Filipinas in the first round of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament last April.