Sports

Filipinas Gear Up for Their Biggest Test Yet — They Face the Matildas in the Women's Asian Cup Opener in Perth

Tabloid PH Newsdesk

Feb 27, 2026 — 1 min read

Photo: ABC News Australia / Getty

The Philippine Women's National Football Team is about to step onto Australian soil for one of the biggest matches in their history — a Group A opener against the host Matildas at the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup. The last time these two teams met, Australia demolished the Filipinas 8-0. This time, the squad says it'll be different.

The Filipinas have evolved significantly since that lopsided result. Fresh off a gold medal at last year's SEA Games, the team has added several dual-nationality players to their roster, including Angie Beard — who previously represented Australia at youth level but now plays for the Philippines.

Head coach Alen Stajcic, himself an Australian, knows the Matildas' strengths and weaknesses better than most. The challenge isn't just about the result — it's about proving that this Filipinas squad belongs on the continental stage and taking another step toward qualifying for the next FIFA Women's World Cup.

The Women's Asian Cup is being held across multiple Australian cities starting March 1, with the Filipinas vs Matildas match set for Perth. Every game can be watched via the official AFC YouTube channel for viewers outside Australia. Filipino communities in Western Australia have organized live viewing events to support the team.

For a program that only qualified for their first-ever World Cup in 2023, the trajectory has been remarkable. Win, lose, or draw against Australia, the Filipinas are building something special. The entire country will be watching — and rooting for an upset that would shake women's football in Asia.

Source: ABC News Australia

Spanish Energy Giant Diverxia Just Set Up Shop in Makati — They're Building Massive Solar Farms Across the Philippines

A Spanish renewable energy developer just planted its flag in the Philippines. Diverxia, the clean energy arm of Valencia-based Grupo Alonso, has opened operational headquarters in Makati City after a year of regulatory analysis and technical assessments — and they're here to build utility-scale solar farms. The move is

ICC Judge Orders Redactions in Duterte Hearing Broadcast — The Defense Kept Revealing Victims' Identities

The live broadcast of Duterte's ICC hearing was partially redacted on Day 3 after the defense team repeatedly disclosed information that could identify victims and witnesses — prompting the prosecution to request immediate protective measures. ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I Presiding Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc confirmed that redactions were applied

Marks & Spencer Says It's NOT Leaving the Philippines — Even Though SSI Is Closing All Its M&S Stores by May

Marks & Spencer just dropped a clarification that confused shoppers probably didn't expect: the British retail giant says it is NOT leaving the Philippines, even though its local partner SSI Group just announced it's shutting down all M&S operations by May 2. The London-based

Drug War Victims Fire Back at Panelo: 'Nothing Was Shattered — The Prosecution's Case Stands Firm'

Hours after Salvador Panelo declared the prosecution's case 'shattered to pieces,' the victims' camp fired back with a blunt rebuttal: hindi totoo. Human rights lawyer Neri Colmenares said he saw no indication that the defense weakened the prosecution's evidence during Day 3 of

Read more

Spanish Energy Giant Diverxia Just Set Up Shop in Makati — They're Building Massive Solar Farms Across the Philippines

ICC Judge Orders Redactions in Duterte Hearing Broadcast — The Defense Kept Revealing Victims' Identities

Marks & Spencer Says It's NOT Leaving the Philippines — Even Though SSI Is Closing All Its M&S Stores by May

Drug War Victims Fire Back at Panelo: 'Nothing Was Shattered — The Prosecution's Case Stands Firm'