Filipinas frustrate Hong Kong to book ticket to AFC Women’s Asian Cup

The Philippine women’s national football team marched into the 2026 AFC Asian Cup again after overcoming a feisty Hong Kong side, 1-0, in the qualifying round of the tournament on Saturday at Cambodia’s National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh.

The Mark Torcaso-coached Filipinas completed their sweep of the qualifiers to secure all nine points that went with a superior +10 goal differential (GD) to top Group G also against Saudi Arabia and Cambodia.

The first four minutes of the game were fairly easy, while the rest was a total opposite as Hong Kong proved to be a real piece of work.

Alexa Pino, who has scored twice for the Philippines in their first two assignments, perfectly set up Chandler McDaniel for the lone goal of the match at the fourth minute.

Although there was no shortage of attempts and efforts from the Filipinas to double the advantage, every shot either went wide or straight to Hong Kong’s keeper Leung Wai Nga’s hands.

While her sister was busy running around the opposite side, Olivia McDaniel, for her part, kept a clean-sheet throughout the competition and showed mastery in defending her post.

This will mark the Philippines' third straight qualification in the quadrennial meet after making it to the semifinal of the 2022 edition then under Alen Stajcic.

Next year’s Asian Cup will see 12 teams battle it out for the eight allotted slots for the continent in the 2027 Women's World Cup including host nation Australia, China, South Korea, Japan, and Bangladesh.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News

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