Philippines faces Japan in AFC Women’s Cup quarterfinals with World Cup spot at stake

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The Philippines will face Japan in the quarterfinals of the 2026 AFC Women’s Cup in Australia, with a World Cup berth at stake. Nadeshiko Japan dominated Group C with 17 goals, including an 11-0 rout of India. The Filipinas finished third in Group A and will play at 11 a.m. Manila time on Sunday, March 15, at Stadium Australia in Sydney.

National coach Mark Torcaso highlighted the honor of facing top teams in Asia and the world. “It’s a privilege playing against some of the best teams here in Asia and around the world, in this tournament. Like Australia and South Korea, we look forward to this game,” he said. Their campaign is supported by the Philippine Football Federation and the Philippine Sports Commission.

The winner of the Philippines vs Japan game will secure a spot in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. [AFC pool]

Japan’s offensive threat and tactical shift

Nadeshiko Japan will field top scorers Riko Ueki and Kiko Seike, each with four goals in the group stage. The Japanese side defeated the Philippines 8-1 in the 19th Asian Games quarterfinals in 2023. Coach Nils Nielsen aims to strengthen defense against the Filipinas after their 4-0 win over Vietnam in Group C. “I think we need to show that we can defend as well, not just attack. We’ll spend time on that in the coming days, and also work on improving our transition moments,” Nielsen said.

The winner of the quarterfinal will directly qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The loser moves to the play-ins, where two more teams will qualify, and others enter inter-confederation playoffs. Australia has already earned a World Cup berth with a 2-1 win over North Korea. China, Chinese Taipei, South Korea, and Uzbekistan are still competing for semifinal spots.

Filipinas’ mix of veterans and youth

The Filipinas enter the match with a 1-0-2 record in Group A. Chandler McDaniel and Sara Egesvik scored in a 2-0 win over Iran, helping the team advance as one of the two best third-placed teams.

The squad combines 2023 World Cup veterans and younger players. Veterans include Chandler McDaniel, Hali Long, Olivia McDaniel, Sara Egesvik, Jaclyn Sawicki, Angela Beard, Jessika Cowart, and Sofia Harrison. Younger players include Ariana Markey, Alexa Pino, Jael Marie Guy, Mallie Ramirez, Paige McSwigan, and Isabella Pasion.