Despite a narrow 1-0 defeat to Chinese Taipei in their final friendly match last June 10, Philippine Women’s National Football Team head coach Mark Torcaso remains upbeat as the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers approach.
50 Player Pool = Good Problem
The coach welcomed the competition, noting that final roster selections from the current 50-player pool will be a difficult yet promising challenge.
“Oh, very tough,” Torcaso said in a story made by Kennedy Caacbay from ABS-CBN Sports. “Like, we’ve got a pool of 50 players. And you all know the quality that we’ve got and the quality that we’re going to see. Like, we’re going to see four or five World Cup players. So, yeah, definitely we are going to be ready. But we also know that we’re going to see a few, and they will be ready,” he added.
Torcaso emphasized the potential of the squad even without key players, calling the lineup shuffle a valuable trial in building team depth.
“We gave debuts to players in key roles, and that was an important challenge for them,” he mentioned from a story made by Lorenzo del Carmen published in Tiebreaker Times. “But when you look at players like Katrina Guillou, Meryll Serrano, and Quinley Quezada — these are experienced World Cup players, and we’re expecting them to return for the qualifiers.”
Silver Lining in the Loss Against Chinese Taipei
“I just told the girls that this was a really good performance, especially in the second half,” said Torcaso, who was also from the story of Lorenzo from Tiebreaker Times.
“We’re getting to the level we want to reach. If we can play like we did in those last 35 minutes — especially against teams like Hong Kong, Cambodia, or Saudi Arabia — I truly believe we’re going to win.”
New Faces Step Up in Absence of Veterans
Missing several mainstays from their historic FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign — including Sarina Bolden, Katrina Guillou, Meryll Serrano, Bella Flanigan, Sofia Harrison Wunsch, and Quinley Quezada — the Filipinas fielded a makeshift lineup.
In their absence, international debuts were handed to Chayse Ying, Megan Murray, and Julianna Barker, giving Torcaso and his coaching staff a chance to test emerging talent. They were all tested in the friendly match and have displayed flashes of potential.
Hope for Sarina Bolden’s Return
While the Filipinas have shown glimpses of their developing identity under Torcaso, one absence looms large: star striker Sarina Bolden.
With 31 goals in 52 international appearances, Bolden remains the team’s most consistent scoring threat. Though her availability for the qualifiers remains uncertain due to injury, Torcaso expressed cautious optimism.
“She’s undergoing rehabilitation at the moment. Hopefully, she’ll be ready in time.”
As the countdown to the qualifiers continues, the Filipinas aim to refine their form, reinforce their roster, and capitalize on the growing support of local fans in their quest for a return to continental prominence.
