The national women’s football team is on its way to India after completing preparations for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup with a training camp in the United States.
Twenty members of the Asian Cup squad posed for a group photo before boarding a plane bound for Mumbai, eight days before the team opens its campaign in the continental tournament.
Coach Alen Stajcic’s side spent the last two months training in Irvine, California, aiming to have a good chance of qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Five World Cup slots are at stake in the tournament, with the Philippines looking to hurdle a tough obstacle in Group B where it will face Australia, Thailand and Indonesia.
The top two teams in each of the three groups plus the two best third placers will advance to the quarterfinals.
Australia is already assured of a World Cup berth by virtue of co-hosting the event along with New Zealand.
Japan-based players Sarina Bolden and Quinley Quezada will suit up for the first time since the 2019 Southeast Asian Games to lead the country’s bid.
Four new players have also been added to the lineup while the majority are those who competed in the Asian Cup Qualifiers in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.