Chile will be the next destination of the Philippine national women’s football team as part of its buildup for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Filipinas have been booked to play the Chilean national squad on 12 November at the Estadio Sausalito n Vina del Mar while the rematch will be staged three days later at the Municipal dela Pintana in the capital of Santiago, the Philippine Football Federation said.
This will be the first time the Filipinas will face a South American unit in any match as La Roja Femenina, Chile’s nom de guerre, are also using these matches to prepare for the inter-confederation playoffs next year in the hopes of punching a ticket to the World Cup.
Unlike the Philippines, which has already secured a spot in the biggest football spectacle outside the Olympics, No. 38 Chile has to win one more game in the playoff match against the winner of Senegal and Haiti on 22 February in Aukland to get their spot in Group D where England, Denmark and China await.
The Filipinas were sorted in Group A along with co-host New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland during the World Cup draw last 22 October.
PFF president Mariano Araneta said these friendlies and an 11-day training camp are historic for the Philippines as the team plays in the continent for the first time.
“The camp and the matches are historic as this will be the first time the PFF will be sending the team to South America,” Araneta said in a statement.
“With less than a year before the Women’s World Cup, the PFF wants to make sure that the team continues to stay sharp and ready.”
The Filipinas played a pair of friendly matches against Central American squad Costa Rica last month and played with New Zealand last September.
