Powerhouses Spain and Argentina stormed into the semifinals of the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup with emphatic victories at the PhilSports Arena on Monday night, December 2. Both teams displayed dominant form in their quarterfinal matchups, leaving no doubt about their title ambitions.

Spain, unbeaten in Group B, overwhelmed Morocco 6-1. Irene Cordoba stole the spotlight with four goals, including the two fastest in World Cup history—scored within the first 29 seconds—and a hat trick at the 86th second. Marta Lopez-Pardo and Irene Samper added the remaining goals, while Nadia Laftah netted Morocco’s lone strike.

Argentina, the Group A leader, also impressed with a 4-1 triumph over Colombia. Lucia Rossi opened the scoring with two early goals, sandwiching Carina Nunez’s equalizer. Silvina Nava sealed the win with a 28th-minute volley, extending La Albiceleste’s lead.

Semifinal pairings set

The 16-nation tournament, organized with support from the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Football Federation, will hold semifinals on Friday. Spain will face the winner of the quarterfinal between Brazil and Japan. Argentina will take on either Portugal or Italy in the other semifinal clash.

Cordoba expressed pride in her team’s performance. “I’m proud of the team and really happy to reach the semifinals. That was our goal from the beginning. We know it’s not easy,” she said. Rossi echoed the sentiment, highlighting the squad’s cohesive display that powered Argentina into the last four.

Records and milestones

Cordoba’s opening-minute double set a new World Cup record, making her the first player to score twice within the first 60 seconds of a match. Her four-goal haul showcased Spain’s offensive strength. Argentina’s Rossi, meanwhile, confirmed her status as a key figure for La Albiceleste, demonstrating both precision and composure in the attacking third.