The Philippine women’s football team will be eyeing the maximum three points on Thursday when it goes up against Hong Kong in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 in Gifu.
Coach Mark Torcaso is hoping to see a better version of the Filipinas in the 6 p.m. match (Manila time) at Nagaragawa Stadium after snatching a point in their opening assignment against Uzbekistan.
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Monday’s match saw substitute Natalie Collins score the equalizer after dispossessing an Uzbek opponent on the back that saved the Philippines from a less-than-ideal situation going into the Hong Kong affair.
‘I’m proud of this group and happy that, with many new and returning faces, we pinched a draw against a full Uzbekistan team,’ Torcaso said. ‘Can we play a little better? Yes, but we are working on something specific to be ready for the World Cup and some upcoming tough matches.’
The Filipinas are using the Asiad as part of their buildup for next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup in Brazil, but they’re also hoping to succeed in their initial goal of advancing to the quarterfinals for the second straight time.
They’ll be facing Hong Kong for the first time since a 1-0 win at last year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers in Cambodia, and any result less than another victory puts the Philippines in dangerous territory.
The top two teams and possibly the third-placer in Group G will advance to the knockout phase. The Filipinas face China on Monday.
Hong Kong was beaten, 5-1, by China in the opener.
Collins, who plays for Boise State in the US NCAA Division I, came through with the all-important goal in the tournament that served as her senior debut for the Philippines.
The 19-year-old was a fixture for the Philippines during its debut run in the 2024 AFC Women’s U-17 Asian Cup held in Indonesia, scoring two goals during the competition.
‘I believe that we just fight so hard for each other and we’re so proud to represent the crest and just our Filipino culture in every and all moments that we have on the field,’ Collins said.