The Philippine women’s football team may be newcomers in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, but it has already earned a form of respect from its foes ahead of the global football meet this July.

In an interview with FIFA+, former German football player Inka Grings, who was appointed as the head coach of Switzerland last year, is looking to bring the country to its first World Cup title.

The Philippine women's national football team in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia. (PWNF)

But standing in its way are Norway (No. 12), host nation New Zealand (No. 25) and the lower-ranked Philippines (No. 49) in Group A.

With the Filipinas opening their historic World Cup campaign against the Swiss, Grings refused to take any team lightly which includes the promising Philippine team.

"As for the Philippines, it is their first World Cup but we won't underestimate them,” said Grings.

“They are our first opponents and we want to be dominant and get into a flow, shake off any nervousness. But they’re not in the World Cup because they won the lottery, and we will need to be vigilant,” she added.

The Filipinas are coming off a disappointing campaign in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games where they missed out on the semifinals despite beating similarly World Cup-bound Vietnam due to inferior goal differential.

With the World Cup in sight, the Philippines is seeking to pull some strings in the group stage to make a significant first appearance.

The national team will assemble in mid-June and set out camp in Australia or New Zealand to compete in some friendlies and acclimatize themselves come the tournament.

The Philippines will begin its group stage campaign on July 21 through July 30.