AUCKLAND, New Zealand – It was always going to be a daunting task whichever group the Filipinas would found themselves in.
As one of five FIFA Women’s World Cup debutantes and one of the lowest-ranked teams in the draw, the Filipinas will still be heavy underdogs even if they landed in what was considered as one of the most open groups in next year’s tournament.
Following the glittering ceremony at the Aotea Center in downtown Auckland last Saturday, the Filipinas joined host New Zealand and European sides Norway and Switzerland in Group A.
Coming from Pot 4 and with no AFC-member country allowed to be on the same bracket, there were only three available groups for the Filipinas to be on when they were drawn.
The Filipinas were the first team to get picked out of Pot 4 which meant they will be in Group A and will be staying in New Zealand for the duration of the group stage.
The Filipinas’ first game will be against Switzerland at Forsyth Barr Stadium in the south New Zealand island of Dunedin on July 21.
Their next game will be on July 25 against New Zealand at the Wellington Regional Stadium, before they wrap up their group assignments against Norway at Eden Park in Auckland on July 30.
The Filipinas, who qualified for the World Cup after a semifinal finish in the AFC Asian Cup early this year, are supported by team manager Jefferson Cheng, the Philippine Sports Commission and the MVP Sports Foundation.