Another miracle for Filipinas?

The Filipinas are arriving here from Auckland via Sydney this afternoon fresh from making history at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. They didn’t only mark the country’s debut in the FIFA World Cup but also notched the first-ever win on the biggest stage of the “beautiful” sport. The team is touching down without Angela Beard, Tahnai Annis, Dom Randle, Carleigh Frilles, Malea Cesar and Kiara Fontanilla who are headed back to their home base. The other players, including the McDaniel sisters, will be in town.

If the Filipinas worked a miracle in New Zealand, will they be able to do a repeat in qualifying for the Paris Olympics? Only 12 women’s football teams will compete in Paris. France, as host, has an automatic slot and the other 11 will come from qualifiers in six continental confederations. Two teams will represent Asia where 31 countries were listed in the initial field of competition. Drawing byes to move straight to the second round were North Korea, Japan, Australia, China and South Korea. There were 26 teams, including the Filipinas, that participated in the first round where seven survived – Uzbekistan, Iran, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Chinese Taipei and India. Among those eliminated were Myanmar, Singapore, Lebanon and Indonesia. The Filipinas crushed Pakistan, 4-0, Tajikistan, 8-0, and Hong Kong, 4-0, to sweep their group.

In the second round, the Filipinas are bracketed with Australia, Chinese Taipei and Iran. First match is against Chinese Taipei on Oct. 26. Then, it’s Australia on Oct. 29 and Iran on Nov. 1. All games will be held at the Perth Rectangular Stadium in Australia. The second round will feature 12 teams split into three groups of four. The top teams from each group plus the best second placer from the three groups will advance to the knockout semifinals. The winners of the semifinals will clinch tickets to Paris. It won’t be an easy route for the Filipinas but miracles happen.

The quirk in the Olympic qualifiers is Australia’s inclusion in the Asian region while New Zealand is in Oceania. In the FIBA Olympic qualifiers, both Australia and New Zealand are classified under Oceania. Of the 12 teams competing in the second round of the Olympic qualifiers, three are ranked under No. 46 Philippines – No. 49 Uzbekistan, No. 60 India and No. 61 Iran. North Korea is unranked because of inactivity since 2019 but was No. 5 in 2006-07 and 2008-10.

Before the Olympic qualifiers in Perth, the Filipinas will play in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on Sept. 23-Oct. 8. Filipinas team coordinator and Philippine Football Federation head of the women’s division Belay Fernando said it’s still not certain who will be called up for the Asian Games and Olympic qualifiers. It will depend on availability and the coach’s call. Every player in the Filipinas lineup for the FIFA World Cup is based overseas. The only Philippine-born players Anicka Castaneda and Meryll Serrano see action for clubs abroad.