The Philippine women’s national football team suffered a 0-3 defeat to 2022 runner-up South Korea on Thursday in Match Day 2 of Group A at the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, held at Robina Stadium.

Despite the setback, the Filipinas remain in contention for a quarterfinal spot and a potential path to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Head coach Mark Torcaso acknowledged the team’s disappointment but lauded the spirit and character displayed by his players, especially the younger members of the squad stepping onto the international stage.

“We don’t like to lose, but the character of our players always shines,” Torcaso said. “The character of our young players, when they come on, shows the exuberance and excitement that we need, and that’s backed up by our experienced players.”

Looking ahead, Torcaso stressed the importance of refocusing for their next match against Iran on Sunday at Gold Coast Stadium.

“We’re disappointed we didn’t get the result we wanted. But we can’t focus on that now. We’ve got to focus on the next game and what we need to do against Iran,” he added.

The Filipinas will now gear up for a stronger play against Iran on Sunday, March 8, to keep their World Cup dreams alive, with every point in Group A proving crucial for advancing to the knockout stages.