Philippine women's national football team head coach Mark Torcaso. Photo from Philippine Football Federation.MANILA — Philippine women's national football team head coach Mark Torcaso has mapped out the Filipinas' preparations for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, with a schedule of training camps and international competitions designed to have the squad ready for Brazil.
The buildup will take the Filipinas across four continents over the next year, with Torcaso aiming to maximize every FIFA international window through a mix of friendlies, tournaments, and player evaluations.
"Every camp and every opportunity we've got is strategically organized in a way so we're going to be ready for this World Cup," said Torcaso, as the Filipinas seek to improve on their 2023 World Cup campaign through greater exposure and a deeper player pool.
The Filipinas recently opened the next phase of their preparations with a training camp in San Diego, where they faced club teams San Diego Wave and Albion San Diego.
The camp, which Torcaso said was designed to assess the team's depth, featured a 30-player pool composed of returning national team members and newly identified prospects as the coaching staff evaluated options for the World Cup roster.
His trip to Manila also forms part of that evaluation process, with the Australian coach attending the opening of the PFF Women's League while continuing to scout homegrown talent. He added that he also plans to monitor Filipina players competing in leagues across Southeast Asia, including Myanmar and Taiwan, as well as those based in Europe.
"I want to make sure that we give everyone an opportunity to be part of this World Cup, and I don't want to miss out on anyone," he said. "Every player, regardless if you're in the Philippines or playing in Myanmar or playing in Europe somewhere, I want to give everyone a chance."
The Filipinas' schedule continues with the Asian Games in Japan this September, where Torcaso sees another opportunity to evaluate players despite the tournament falling outside a FIFA international window.
"The main objective in this Asian Games is obviously to go as far as we can, but it's also for us as coaches and the country to test some players at a tough level to see if they'll be ready for the World Cup," he said.
Beyond the Asian Games, Torcaso confirmed that the Filipinas will travel to South America in October before facing teams from Asia and Oceania later in the year. The team will also compete in Spain's Pinatar Cup in February 2027 before taking part in the Olympic qualifiers in April.
Preparations will conclude with a four- to six-week training camp in Brazil before the World Cup begins in June 2027.
Torcaso said the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has worked closely with the coaching staff in arranging the team's schedule.
"They have been very accommodating and supportive in our preparations," he said, adding that sponsors and local football stakeholders have also backed the program.
As preparations continue, Torcaso called on Filipino supporters to rally behind the team throughout its journey to Brazil.
"Any country that we go to, I just really express that if we can have as much support and fans come out and be part of our journey. Every time we have a camp here in the Philippines, come and watch the girls," he said. "Trust me, they play so much better when they feel that love and support from everyone."