The Philippines will have to go through some tough opposition in its bid to secure a historic berth in the FIFA Women’s World Cup after being drawn in Group B of the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup slated Jan. 20 to Feb. 6 in India.
The lady booters are joined by 2014 and 2018 Asian Cup finalist Australia, 2018 semifinalist Thailand and Indonesia in the group where they’ll need to be one of the two best third placers in order to reach the quarterfinals.
Five slots to the World Cup in 2023 are at stake in the continental tournament which the Philippines will compete for second straight time after the sweeping Group F of the qualifiers last month in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Australian Alen Stajcic, who steered his country to two Women’s World Cup appearance, was hired to guide the Philippines’ World Cup ambitions after Marlon Maro called the shots in the qualifiers.
Eight teams from the three groups will advance to the quarterfinals where they’ll contest the World Cup slots and two spots in the inter-confederation playoff.
Australia is assured of a World Cup berth since it is scheduled to share the 2023 hosting with New Zealand, and its performance in the Asian Cup will determine how the berths are going to be contested.
China, Taiwan, Iran and host India comprise Group A while Japan, winners of the last two editions in 2014 and 2018, are in Group B together with South Korea, Vietnam and Myanmar.