Veteran Australian gaffer Alen Stajcic was hired by the Makati Football Club (MFC) as one of its coaches. With MFC owner Selu Lozano managing the Filipinas U17, Stajcic will help guide the squad for the 2027 AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from October 5 to 11, 2026.
Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President John Anthony Gutierrez lauded Lozano’s initiative in bringing in Stajcic to help develop young Filipina footballers.
“Selu has a sterling track record of international success with MFC,” Gutierrez said. “His forte is youth development, and he wants to bring out the best of our young players. In doing so, he provides the best mentorship for them, and that is what our youth deserve.”
Stajcic led the Filipinas from October 2021 to August 2023, a period that produced a historic AFC Women’s Asian Cup semifinal run in 2022, a SEA Games bronze medal, and the country’s first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup berth, the 2022 AFF Women’s Championship title, and a debut at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Filipinas U17 during their recent training camp and friendlies in Goa, India, against the India national team in preparation for the 2027 AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers. They will face Uzbekistan on October 5 and Bangladesh on October 11.
Meanwhile, on the senior side, Gutierrez expressed the Federation’s full confidence in the current Filipinas coaching staff led by head coach Mark Torcaso, who led the Filipinas to two Asian Games quarterfinals, the Philippines’ first ever football gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games, and a return to the World Cup after a successful 2026 AFC Women’s Cup campaign marked by a 2-0 win over Uzbekistan in the play-in.
“PFF has every confidence in Coach Mark and his staff. Make no mistake about it: Coach Mark will lead the Filipinas to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup all the way to the 2027 SEA Games,” he added.
Torcaso’s approach has been built on discipline, structure, and depth. He has integrated high-potential teenage players alongside the program’s veterans, while ensuring that players are physically and mentally prepared and performing consistently at their clubs.
Torcaso’s preparation roadmap for the 2027 World Cup spans four continents and every available FIFA window, including the upcoming Peru friendlies on October 9 and 13, 2026; a camp in Asia/Oceania in November 2026; the Pinatar Cup in Spain in February 2027; and the 2028 Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which PFF fully supports.
No rest for Mark Torcaso and the Filipinas as they train in Manila right after their Asian Games quarterfinal run. They will proceed to Chincha, Peru next week for a pair of friendlies with the Peru national team on October 9 and 13. The Asian Games and the Peru camp are part of the Filipinas’ preparation for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“Our objective is very clear: we are going to the World Cup to compete and not just participate. We will do what we can to get out of the group,” Torcaso said.
He has also spoken of the mindset he wants to instill: “Continuing to grow discipline and commitment and a really good, strong mentality of becoming a team that is not just making up numbers.”
That approach has earned the trust of his players.
Winger Inday Tolentin, who also competes for the national futsal team, credited Torcaso for giving her the opportunity to shine at the highest level.
“I’m grateful that Coach Mark gave me the confidence to enter the national team, which I’ll treasure in life,” Tolentin told pff.org.ph during the Filipinas Meet-and-Greet last September 10, 2026.
