Game on! Filipinas now playable in popular Fifa23      

The Filipinas have a lot to be happy about with the fulfillment of Fifa’s promise. —CONTRIBUTED
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The Philippine women’s football team continues to bask in the perks of their qualification to the Fifa (International Association Football Federation) Women’s World Cup: The Filipinas will make an appearance in a popular video game.

Local football fans and gamers were ecstatic when the national women’s team and the rest of the countries that will play in women’s football’s biggest showpiece were recently added as playable squads in Fifa 23, allowing them to try and fulfill a virtual dream of seeing the Philippines win it all.

“I don’t think any of us ever thought that we would be in a video game, let alone Fifa 23,” said Sofia Harrison during an online press conference hosted by Summit Water on Friday.

The roster includes the team’s top players like Sarina Bolden, Olivia McDaniel and Hali Long, whose game avatars are very much lifelike in appearance.

Fifa 23 is the 30th installment of the famed football game which usually features mostly top men’s clubs in Europe and the Americas as well as national teams. The latest version also marked the first time that women’s teams were added to the game.

Names like Australia’s Sam Kerr, United States’ Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, Norway’s Ada Hegerberg and England’s Beth Mead are among those who are part of the video game.

Sticker cards

“There’s a lot of big names in that game and to be able to represent the Philippines and be part of the game, it’s really special for us,” said Harrison, who is also part of the game.

The Filipinas also appeared in sticker card collection released recently by Panini, featuring select players from teams that will play in the World Cup later this month in Australia and New Zealand.

Those who appeared in the said sticker collection were Bolden, Long, McDaniel, Harrison, Quinley Quezada, Jessika Cowart, Katrina Guillou, Tahnai Annis, Sara Eggesvik, Eva Madarang and Maya Alcantara.

Meanwhile, sports powerhouse brand Adidas has also signed with the Filipinas as official outfitter, adding to the list of perks for the team after its qualification to football’s biggest stage. And the players aren’t taking these privileges for granted.

“We’re all very grateful that they wanted to help us in any way they can as we continue our story,” said Harrison.