The Philippine Women’s National Football Team, known as the Filipinas, is set to take on Uzbekistan in the GoTyme Bank Match Up on Wednesday, October 29, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila. The match is for the team’s steady build-up toward major continental competitions, including the AFC Women’s Asian Cup final round in March 2026 and the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games later this year.
Building momentum
PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez emphasized the broader purpose behind the friendly match.
“While this match contributes to the team’s FIFA seedings,” Gutierrez explained. “But of course, we also want to get as many camps and training sessions as we can in preparation for the AFC final round this coming March. This is the first of many—part of a series of camps building up to that competition.”
Gutierrez expressed confidence in the Filipinas’ form and depth, noting their promising showing in recent tournaments such as the Serenity Cup, where the squad performed admirably despite fielding several young players.
“Considering what our young ladies showed during the Serenity Cup—tying and losing narrowly to the eventual finalists—and now having a full squad for the seedings, I think our chances are looking good,” he said. “We’re fielding a very strong team, and the preparations have been excellent.”
Homecoming excitement
Head coach Mark Torcaso, who has guided the Filipinas through several successful international windows, shared his excitement about returning to play on home soil.
“We are extremely excited to be here. This is our home,” said Torcaso. “More importantly, everyone comes out and supports us. It’s about our fifth camp in Manila in the last two years—much more regular than in the past. We’re thrilled to be in front of the fans again and we hope everyone comes out to cheer for the team.”
The Filipinas last played at Rizal Memorial five months ago and the return marks another opportunity for local supporters to witness the national team’s evolution firsthand. Torcaso highlighted that all players called up for the current camp are available for selection, which will allow the team to field one of its strongest lineups in recent months.
“The players began arriving around October 18 and 19, and we started training on the 20th,” he shared. “We’re grateful to the clubs for releasing them early. The girls have been excellent—their mentality and attitude are exactly what we ask for. You’ll see a very strong side playing tomorrow.”
Winning mindset
In addition to developing tactical discipline, Torcaso emphasized that the team’s current focus lies in strengthening its winning mentality—a key ingredient as they prepare for regional and continental tournaments.
“Over the last six months, we’ve been trying to make the girls believe that any game is winnable, regardless of who we play against,” Torcaso said. “We’re instilling a winning mentality and a focus that it doesn’t matter who the opponent is.”
He added that recent camps have yielded significant defensive improvements, with the team conceding few goals. The Filipinas are now focusing on maintaining their defensive solidity while sharpening their offensive transition play.
“We’re building on being a team that is strong in defense, but also very good on the counterattack,” Torcaso explained. “Those are the qualities you’ll see in this match and the next few months leading into the SEA Games.”
“Defend our home”
Team vice-captain Angie Beard echoed her coach’s sentiments, speaking passionately about what it means to represent the country and play in front of Filipino fans.
“Every time we put on the Filipinas jersey, we want to be successful. We want to fight for each other, the coaching staff, and the country,” said Beard. “When we come here to the Philippines, it’s our home.”
Beard described the sense of pride and motivation the players feel when playing in front of the local crowd.
“Representing the country and its people is always a once-in-a-lifetime feeling, whether it’s your first or your 50th cap,” she added. “Being here and feeling the support of the nation—it’s indescribable. Having that energy behind us is powerful.”
Festive Match Up
President Gutierrez also highlighted PFF’s continuing efforts to enhance the GoTyme Bank Match Up experience for fans attending home fixtures.
“We’d like it to be a total experience for everyone—a one-stop shop when families come for a spectacle,” he said. “We’re doing a good job with what we call our fan zones, and we’ll continue doing that for all national teams playing at home.”
These fan zones and post-match concerts have been introduced as part of PFF’s broader initiative to make football more accessible and enjoyable to families and casual spectators.
Last October 14, 2025, popular girl group G22 graced the Asian Cup Qualifier Game between the Philippine Men’s National Football Team and Timor-Leste at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.
For the GoTyme Bank Match Up, PFF will launch the football-themed single Para sa Bayan performed by GloryFall, a song inspired by the renewed glory of Philippine football as seen in recent successful performances by the national teams and the growing grassroots development of football nationwide.
To cap the night, Pinoy rock band Mayonnaise, popular for their hit songs Jopay and Bakit, will perform after the game.
Torcaso expressed appreciation for the federation’s efforts, noting that these activities help promote unity and public interest in the sport.
“It’s a really exciting initiative,” he said. “It brings the country together—not just from a football perspective but from every part of life. Families who may come for the concert will get a glimpse of what women’s football is all about.”
Respect for Uzbekistan
The Filipinas’ opponents, Uzbekistan, are currently preparing for their own Asian Cup campaign and have earned respect from the Philippine side for their physicality and competitive spirit.
“We respect Uzbekistan highly,” said Torcaso. “They’re a strong, physical team and they’re improving fast. We accepted this invitation easily because both our teams are on a similar path toward the Asian Cup. It’s a perfect opportunity to test ourselves.”
Beard agreed that facing Uzbekistan provides a valuable learning experience.
“Our analysts and coaching staff have worked really hard to prepare us,” she said. “This is a great opportunity to implement our playing style and build the habits and mindset we’ll need for the SEA Games and Asian Cup.”
SEA Games and beyond
As 2025 draws to a close, the Filipinas’ focus is shifting toward the upcoming SEA Games, where the team aims to win a medal, and the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, where they seek to continue building on the country’s recent football success.
“We’re using every opportunity to pick the best possible side to get a medal in those games,” said Torcaso. “We have so many players, both here and abroad, who are fighting for positions. That’s the most exciting part—we’re building real depth.”
Torcaso and the Filipinas exuded confidence heading into their friendly match.
“We are absolutely focused on tomorrow’s match,” he said. “Playing in front of our home crowd with their support behind us is our ultimate goal. It’s been a great week so far, and we’re really positive about tomorrow.”
PFF invites football fans to troop of the Rizal Memorial Stadium on October 29 and cheer for the Filipinas. Free tickets for the GoTyme Bank Match Up are available through this link.
