Long, rocky road to World Cup glory for the Azkals

COLOMBO—The Philippines’ showdown with Sri Lanka is just the start of a long, arduous journey to the sport’s showpiece event, the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil.

But getting there is almost impossible considering the Philippines’ stature as a developing football nation.

In fact, the country has fallen at the very first hurdle in past qualifying tournaments.

“It will be very difficult, that’s why we are putting it in a very realistic level, which is getting past the first-round of the tournament” said team manager Dan Palami.

One of the 43 countries vying for the four Asian spots in the tournament, the Philippines, along with Laos, is the lowest seeded team in the qualifying event.

While hopes are high that the Azkals will be able to overcome Sri Lanka in their opening-round clash, the odds in the second round—if the Philippines advances—will again be stacked against them when they meet Kuwait.

As the qualifying event rolls on, the task of advancing becomes more and more difficult.

Asian Cup champion Japan and powerhouse sides Australia, North Korea, South Korea and Bahrain are already seeded in the third round, where they will join the 15 second round winners drawn into five groups.