FUKUROI — The Philippine Women’s National Football Team’s showed resilience and progress as its campaign at the 20th Asian Games came to a close, 0-4, against defending gold medalists Japan at Shizuoka Stadium on September 25, 2026, marking the Filipinas’ second consecutive appearance in the tournament’s final eight and their strongest showing to date against the Nadeshiko.
The result is a significant improvement over the Filipinas’ two previous meetings with Japan, an 8-1 defeat at the 2022 Asian Games and a 0-7 loss at the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup.
Before the quarterfinals, Japan, a prime team with an average age of 25, was a juggernaut in Group E, winning 8-0 against ASEAN powers Thailand and Vietnam, and 4-0 against Chinese Taipei.
PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez praised the team’s performance, despite being the younger squad with eleven players below 23.
20 year old Megan Murray (center) is among the Filipinas’ young rising stars. The winger issued the game sealing assist in the Filipinas’ 2-0 win versus Hong Kong in the group stage.
“Two straight Asian Games quarterfinals among the best in Asia shows that the Filipinas have firmly planted their status as among the continent’s best. We are proud of every player and every member of our staff for this campaign and we thank all of them for giving their best for the country,” Gutierrez said.
Japan opened the scoring inside two minutes when Saori Takarada converted off a rebound following goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel’s save on a Yuki Seno header in a corner set piece.
Mami Ueno doubled the lead in the 26th minute off another corner set piece, before Takarada struck again in the 36th minute from a loose ball after Jackie Sawicki’s block and Camryn Penn’s clearance attempt.
Chiina Kamiya completed the scoring with a headed finish from another corner play in first-half stoppage time, assisted by Megu Hamada.
Despite trailing 4-0 at the break, the Filipinas held Japan scoreless through the entire second half — the first time in head-to-head history they have kept the Asian Games champions off the board for a full 45 minutes — while also recording their fewest goals conceded in a meeting between the two sides.
McDaniel finished with a string of saves throughout the match, and the Filipinas generated attacking chances of their own, including a Jourdyn Curran header and a Mallie Ramirez header off a Katrina Guillou free kick, both saved by Japan goalkeeper Shu Ohba.
20 year old Azumi Oka (center), who previously played for the Filipinas in the 2025 ASEAN Women’s Championship, reunited with the Philippines’ most capped player Hali Long in the back four for the Asian Games, starting all four games as center back.
Head coach Mark Torcaso credited the team’s response after a difficult opening half.
“We conceded too early against a fantastic team like Japan, and those are not the kinds of goals we usually give up,” Torcaso said. “But the girls came out in the second half and were excellent — we defended well and created chances of our own. To lose 4-0 here after losing 8-1 the last time we were in this position is real improvement, and it’s something to build on heading into the World Cup.”
PFF thanks the Filipinas’ sponsors — PSC, PAGCOR, the Philippine Olympic Committee, Adidas, GoTyme Bank, Studio 300, AIA, Sip, Sip Plus, and 2GO — for their continued support, and One Sports for broadcasting all national team matches.
The Filipinas next face Peru in two friendly matches on October 9 and 13, 2026, in Chincha, continuing their preparations for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil.
