Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Mariano Araneta, Jr. and general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes hailed the Philippine Women’s National Team’s historic feat of qualifying to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 after dispatching Chinese Taipei, 4-3 in penalty shootout last night at the Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Complex in Pune, India.
Olivia McDaniel loomed large in the shootout, scoring in the penalty coupled with two match winning stops to allow Sarina Bolden to score the winning penalty and
The team’s campaign already saw historic feats beating Thailand in the opening group match and advancing to the knockout stages for the very first time, but the shootout win will be fondly remembered as the watershed moment for Philippine football.
The Philippines will join Australia, China PR, Japan, Korea Republic, and the winner of the play-off round in the Women’s World Cup 2023 will be held in Australia and New Zealand on July 2023.
“To qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup is an achievement that no one will take away from this team,” said Araneta. “From the camp three months ago to this one single moment, we know how much this result means not only for the team, but for the entire nation that they have inspired. Credit goes to Coach Alen Stajcic, the staff, the players, and most importantly to all the supporters of the team who have willed them to reach this moment.”
“We have seen time and again the fighting spirit and resilience of our Philippine women’s team and they have shown it again in front of sporting fans in the country and all over Asia,” added Gastanes. “Having qualified to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, the Filipinos can proudly say that the Philippines is among the top women’s national teams in Asia and in the world.”
The Philippines will face Korea Republic in the semi-final match on Thursday, 03 February 2022.
The PWNT is supported by Team Manager Jefferson Cheng, the Philippine Sports Commission and the MVP Sports Foundation.
