Filipinas goalkeeper Inna Palacios and global brand Visa have teamed up to magnify the progress of women's sports ahead of the country’s first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup stint this July. The Philippine women’s national football team is riding the momentum of its 2022 success all the way to the World Cup, with sponsors and advocates coming along to support its cause.

*Filipinas goalkeeper and Visa country manager for the Philippines and Guam Jeff Navarro.

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A long-time supporter of the Olympic games and the organization of FIFA, Visa couldn’t have picked the best time to bring about the partnership as International Women’s Month continues to roll. “If you look at the principles within Visa, we’re very much [about] diversity, inclusion, empowerment. So, aside from doing the business part of it, these are also the values that we hold dear within the organization [we want to] move internally to the outside. First, it’s International Women’s Month, we wanted to make sure we really articulate and magnify that message. We also believe that sports can be a very big platform to connect, the audience watching it and the athletes playing,” said Visa country manager for the Philippines and Guam, Jeff Navarro during an intimate media roundtable discussion with the media on Wednesday, March 22 at the Visa Office in Pasay City. “To us, we really saw an opportunity to really partner with the team and with Inna. And I think it’s a very good partnership and platform. “Why not? If you look at Visa, we have been focused on sports because we feel that it’s one of those that’s important in nation building,” he added. With Visa throwing in some extra support for the Filipinas, Palacios sees the potential long-term partnership to be also beneficial in the grassroots programs of football in the country. After their first Pinatar Cup stint in Spain last February, the national team has shifted its focus and preparation to the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia this May, all of which are part of their journey to the World Cup. With a hectic schedule of lined up tournaments this year, Palacios has deemed it as growth to be able to participate in as many competitions as the team possibly can. “Just being able to participate in many tournaments and not just one tells you that there’s been a lot of growth in the country not just in football but in women’s sports. It’s nice to see that more and more people are investing and are actually looking out for these athletes,” said Palacios. “When you have someone that believes in you that means they see potential and that gives you an opportunity to be successful.”