Twenty-five teams in the Asia-Oceania region are gunning for two spots for women's football in the 2024 Paris Olympics. In the past two AFC Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQT), Australia and China won the coveted slots.
The Philippines is right in the thick of things in this year's tournament. The Filipinas advanced to the second round after a spotless slate in the opening stage. But things will only get tougher.
They arrived a few days ago in Perth, Australia for the second round of the OQT, which will kick off on Thursday.
The road to reach next year's Olympics is a very rough one.
There are three groups of four in the second round. Only the top teams in each group will be assured a spot in the final round.
There is still a bright spot for the runners-up in each group, but only the team with the best record will advance.
The final round will see the four remaining squads compete in home-and-away games, with the aggregate winners securing tickets to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
For the second round, the Filipinas are in Group A, along with Australia, Chinese Taipei, and Iran.
Chinese Taipei
FIFA ranking: 38 (6th in AFC)
First round record: 2-0-0 (Group F)
Philippines vs Chinese Taipei: October 26 at 4:00 p.m. Manila time
Chinese Taipei has an axe to grind with the Philippines. It was the Filipinas who beat the Taiwanese for a spot in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup after a tense penalty shootout during the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup quarterfinals.
In the first round of the AFC OQT, Chinese Taipei utterly dominated Group F with a 5-1 beatdown of Lebanon and a 4-0 thrashing of Indonesia.
In the 2020 edition, when the field was much wider, Chinese Taipei reached the final round but fell short of the playoffs with losses to Australia and China.
Australia
FIFA ranking: 11 (2nd in AFC)
First round record: Bye for second round
Philippines vs Australia: October 29 at 3:00 p.m. Manila time
The Filipinas absorbed a 4-0 loss to Australia in the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup group stage but exacted revenge a few months later with a 1-0 upset win in the AFF Women’s Championship.
The Matildas have plenty of pride as well, winning the 2016 and 2020 OQTs, along with co-hosting the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. They reached the semifinals of the tournament but fell to England and was blanked by Sweden for the third place match.
There's no doubt that this will be the Filipinas' biggest fight, quite literally, as organizers had to move the venue to the 60,000-capacity Optus Stadium due to the overwhelming demand.
Iran
FIFA ranking: 63 (12th in AFC)
First round record: 1-1-0 (Group B)
Philippines vs Iran: November 1 at 4:00 p.m. Manila time
Hali Long, Inna Palacios, and Alisha del Ocampo would still remember what it's like to play against Iran.
The Filipinas got a 2-0 victory, thanks to del Ocampo and Joyce Semacio in the second round of the 2020 OQT.
This year, Iran got a relatively easy path in the first round after Bangladesh and Maldives withdrew. A 1-0 victory and a 1-1 draw against Myanmar all but secured a ticket to the second round.
RELATED STORY: What to expect: Filipinas battle Australia, Chinese Taipei, Iran in Olympic qualifiers second round
Key players for Filipinas
All eyes will be on top striker Sarina Bolden, who scored the Philippines' maiden goal in the FIFA Women's World Cup, as well as made a goal in each of their four matches in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. The Australians know her well, after her stint with the Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League Women.
Actually, a lot of Australians will be looking at very familiar faces among the Philippine squad, starting with coach and former Western United tactician Mark Torcaso.
Plus, there's Central Coast Mariner Youth's Kiara Fontanilla and Kaya Hawkinson, Perth Glory's Jessika Cowart and Quinley Quezada, Mount Druitt Town Rangers' Anicka Castañeda, and Western United's Jaclyn Sawicki.
ALSO READ: Quinley Quezada, Jessika Cowart dish on 'crazy' following of Filipinas in A-League Women in Australia
The world number 44 Filipinas, ranked seventh in the AFC, will also lean on to familiar contributors in goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel, midfielder Sara Eggesvik, and defender Angela Beard, who will make a return to the squad after sitting out the Asian Games due to club commitments.
It's worth noting though that Torcaso has yet to release his lineup for the OQT.
(PM)