Preparations for the first-ever FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup (FFWWC) to be held in the Philippines continue to make big strides, as a contingent from FIFA arrived in the country this month to meet with the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and the FFWWC Local Organizing Committee (LOC).
From February 10-13, 2025, representatives of FIFA led by Tournament Director Jaime Yarza Gonzalez visited Victorias Coliseum in Negros Occidental, and the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City — the official match venues for the inaugural event — to discuss plans in detail with the Local Organizing Committees. They also met with FFWWC stakeholders such as local government executives and football and futsal community supporters.
Yarza commended the PFF and the LOCs in Metro Manila and Negros and described their relationship with them as “a cooperation that is working very, very well.”
He said, “We have a very good plan in place and the LOC and PFF are working very hard. They’re building a very strong team with a very good professionals.”
Yarza disclosed that adapting the venues to meet FIFA standards is one of the major tasks. “But I don’t see any big challenge that has us worried,” said the FIFA Tournament Director.
With eight months to go before the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup unfolds in November, Yarza enjoins all fans and stakeholders to support the historic international sports competition for women. “Don’t miss the opportunity. It’s the first-ever Women’s Futsal World Cup. In the sports history books, the Philippines will be the first host forever. Don’t miss the action, it’s going to be a great tournament with 16 of the best women’s futsal teams in the world, so it’s going to be really fun.”
The Philippines, through the PFF, secured the bid to host the historic women’s sporting event last May 2024, edging the bids of strong football and futsal nations. With this being the first-ever edition of the competition, FIFA, along with the PFF and LOC, have been working closely to ensure the success of the event, which will leave a lasting legacy, most especially to the futsal grassroots community in the Philippines.
This event also marks another historic milestone for the country as the Philippine Women’s National Futsal Team has automatically qualified for the tournament. FFWWC is scheduled to take place from November 21 to December 7, 2025.
