The Philippine women’s football team gets a taste of world-class competition in a friendly match against powerhouse Sweden ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
As part of their build-up, the Filipinas test their mettle against the Swedes on 17 July in Wellington just three days before the biggest stage in women’s football hosted by New Zealand and Australia opens hostilities.
Philippine Football Federation general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes sees the tuneup match as a chance for the Pinay booters to measure where they are against a top-caliber team in world No. 3 Sweden before their historic World Cup debut.
“We thank our friends from the Swedish Football Association for working with us in making this match happen. It’s a great opportunity for our Filipinas to test themselves against a world-class team before the FIFA Women’s World Cup,” Gastanes said.
The Filipinas, who are currently in Australia for training camp that started 10 June, are in Group A with Norway, Switzerland and World Cup co-host New Zealand.
The Sweden head coach Peter Gerhardsson is looking forward to the match against the 46th-ranked Filipinas, which he believes will benefit both sides heading into the World Cup.
“We are pleased to have this unofficial match against the Philippines in the build-up in New Zealand. It gives us the opportunity to get a good run-through for the whole squad before the premiere on 23 July and at the same time work on our game and our attitudes in match situations against a World Cup nation,” Gerhardsson said.
“The fact that the game is played in three periods also gives us the opportunity to influence the players’ load in the build-up and during the time change in a good way together with the medical team.”
The Filipinas will certainly learn a lot from the Swedes.
Sweden captured the bronze medal in 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France before emerging runner-up to United States in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
