The Filipinas Open Their Women's Asian Cup Campaign Against Australia on March 1 — And They Want Revenge for That 8-0 Beatdown

The Philippine women's national football team — the Filipinas — will open their 2026 Women's Asian Cup campaign against host nation Australia on March 1 in Perth. The last time these two teams met, the Matildas demolished the Filipinas 8-0 in the 2023 Olympic Qualifiers. This time, they're coming for redemption.

"Our last outing against Australia sticks out like a sore thumb, the absolute opposite of what this team stands for," said defender Angie Beard, a former Matilda herself who now plays for the Philippines. Midfielder Jackie Sawicki echoed the sentiment: "That result was obviously really tough to swallow, but our game plan will be much different this time."

Under head coach Mark Torcaso, an Australian who took over after the 2023 World Cup, the Filipinas have rebuilt with a mix of veteran players and younger talents of Filipino descent recruited from leagues around the world. Their SEA Games gold medal last year proved the reset is working. But challenges remain — top scorer Sarina Bolden ruptured her ACL in April 2025 and her status is uncertain.

The tournament doubles as a 2027 Women's World Cup qualifier, with the four quarterfinal winners earning direct spots. For a team that made history by reaching the 2023 World Cup — their first ever — qualifying again would be massive. The Filipinas are in a tough group but they've shown they can punch above their weight.

The Women's Asian Cup runs from March 1 to 21 across five Australian cities. For Filipino football fans, the opening match against the Matildas is the kind of high-stakes, against-all-odds game that this team thrives on. They got embarrassed last time. Now they want to show the world — and especially Australia — that those days are over.

Source: ABC News Australia