The Philippine Women’s National Football Team showed heart and resilience despite a narrow 1–0 loss to Australia in their opening Group A match of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup on Sunday, March 1, at Optus Stadium in Perth.

Facing the world No. 15 Matildas, ranked 26 spots above them, the Filipinas delivered a disciplined and courageous performance, nearly matching the hosts for the full 90 minutes.

This came three years after Australia handed the Philippines an 8–0 defeat in the Paris Olympic Qualifiers, making the Filipinas’ defensive display a remarkable improvement and a statement of growth on the continental stage.

Coach Mark Tacosa praised the squad’s effort, saying, “There’s a lot of positives from there, from what we’ve been working on. I think that’s a good result against a team that’s in the top 15 in the world. We want to be better next game against South Korea.”

Despite the setback, the team remains determined to bounce back. Their next challenge comes on March 5 against Korea Republic, where the Filipinas will look to turn their efforts into a historic win.