Filipinas to make World Cup debut after 'meteoric' rise

In a country obsessed with beauty pageants, basketball and boxing, the Philippines women's team hope to ignite interest in football when they make the nation's World Cup debut. Long considered regional minnows, the Filipinas have rapidly improved under former Australian national women's coach Alen Stajcic, who describes their achievements as "miraculous".
Interviews with Filipinas team: Hali Long, Defender; Inna Palacios, Goalkeeper, and Alen Stajcic, Coach.
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[@cesc7804]

They’re doing great! 🇵🇭 Despite the weather- too cold and windy for tropical girls, they won over New Zealand! Congratulations! Sending lots of ❤️ from the Philippines!

[@mariloumamenta5563]

Hala Bira Pilipinas. God bless our Filipina football players and help them win in all their games in Jesus Name!

[@mrnimbus5397]

I’m fil-am and I root for the Filipinas! Making it to the World Cup is a dream come true!

[@markcynic808]

Do you know how many of the team are native Filipino and how many are foreign born and qualify because their mother, or father, was Filipino born? I wish them good luck against Switzerland on Friday!

[@peekaboopeekaboo1165]

​@@markcynic808 Correct. No sense of native pride.

[@mexicanaburrito2511]

@@peekaboopeekaboo1165well, the reason because there is no any native Filipinos, is because many women back in the Philippines, are either into volleyball or basketball mostly. Football, isn’t a common sport in our country, but I’m glad it’s getting recognition!

[@origenjerome8031]

​@@markcynic808 FIFA rules allow mixed race eligibility. If that was such an issue, FIFA should have banned it in the first place. So why complain now?

[@markcynic808]

@origenjerome8031 Who said anything about mixed race eligibility? And just who is complaining? After reading your comment I thought I'd find out more. On viewing the team, I was struck by the height of the women - most Filipinos are very short, around 5 feet - but these women were all much taller. So I wondered how many of the squad were born in the Philippines. The answer, of the 23 squad members I found, was just one. Another was born in Canada and one other in Norway. The other 20? The USA. I don't understand the point of a squad purporting to represent the Philippines if so few hail from that country. They don't live there, were not born or raised there and don't play football there. In addition, they physically differ from most Filipinos because their fathers' are nearly all Western men. How is this supposed to popularise football in the Philippines?

[@Warriors..570]

I support every thing to Philippines because of manny Pacquiao. Good luck philipines women men.

[@Rcödränrëb26]

Buti nmn napansin nyo rin ang football di puro basketball at boxing ....saludo ang buong Filipino sa inyo dugong mandirigma🇵🇭⚽👊🏻

[@julianlobigas9968]

FOUR B'S -- BASKETBALL, BOXING, BEAUTY PAGEANT, AND BILLIARDS!!

[@cristianpaulp.nolledo4939]

And BALIBOL

[@ernien]

BARBELL 🏋️‍♀️ - Hidilyn D (1st🥇)

[@CBetoRonald0007]

Ryle Bugay and I where classmates and trained togetherat times. I'm excited, and I hope the Philippines 🇵🇭 do well in this tournament.

[@MimMdance]

Best of luck from Spain. Hope they can do a decent tournament.

[@cesc7804]

They’re doing great for a first timer and despite the weather (too cold and too windy for the Filipinas. They won over N Zealand ❤

[@burn2768]

Bright hope of phil sports go go filipinas

[@juniejalandoni1190]

Need more practice specially the goaler

[@akoito6361]

maybe you're referring to goalie or goalkeeper😊

[@jeremar]

Goaler? More watch p and more research before more comment.

[@vicparmi1939]

USA Team B

[@jonathanignacio5960]

Congrats Filipinas Football Team! Mabuhay! God bless!🥰👊🇵🇭❤️👏👏👏🏆👍

[@jodeduyo]

I'm a proud father of a mestiza. Filipina by blood whichever country she goes

[@noeloquero]

WOW 100% GRASS ROOT TALENT FROM ALL OVER THE PHILIPPINES!!!!MABUHEY...😂😂😂

[@peekaboopeekaboo1165]

Correct. We depend on foreign talents.

[@kikootoyat6238]

Sarcasm...Football is not popular io the Philippines and few women took interest in the sports...however, half-Filipinas were recruited from all over the wprld to play for the Philippines, its legal and the Philippines did not break any rules...unless you convince FIFA not to allow half breeds to play...that would affect many countries, including yours probably,,because I bet you have also half breed players...

[@julianlobigas9968]

MY WISH -- EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW HOW TO SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM!!

[@mariaelda6271]

Your wish has been granted. In fairness sa kanila, maririnig mo naman na kinakanta nila ang Lupang Hinirang. Alam nila ang lyrics. You can hear them sing sa camera before the first two games that they played.

[@Vibe101point5]

Hope the philippines men's team can make it too

[@zzzzzsleeping]

We are backing the first timer - worse rating so far, are the Young team Filipinas composed of Filipina Norwegian, Filipina Australian, Filipina French, Filipina Polish, Filipina American, Filipina Mexican How Kool is that? These players are half half ! They would like to represent their parent's country ---> THE PHILIPPINES!!! If they win, they are the coolest team in the world. Like sloppy Joe sandwich and Italian spaghetti

[@torguezz4580]

👏👏

[@sanlynn6258]

1- 0 VICTORIOUS won MADE ME SO PROUD OF YOU ALL

[@vicparmi1939]

foreign born what's going to be proud of?

[@mlc4574]

@@vicparmi1939 does being born elsewhere make them less filipino? They all have a filipino parent; whats your point ? That they have to be born in the country AND/OR be pure filipino? Then half the teams would be guilty of this under your rididulous xenophobic rules lol

[@vicparmi1939]

@@mlc4574 no matter they are still USA team B.

[@del0ryan88]

awesome!