FIFA Women’s World Cup draws 2023 fixtures, PH to face Switzerland in world debut

Explained PHSports3 years ago

By John Rei Salanga

The Philippine national women’s football team are slated to debut in the FIFA Women’s World Cup as they are fixed into Group A during the 2023 draw ceremony held in Aotea Center in Auckland, New Zealand, on Saturday.

Photo Courtesy of FIFA

After a FIFA berth-clinching victory over Chinese Taipei in the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, the Filipinas were drawn in the group stage alongside Norway, Switzerland, and co-host New Zealand.

In its world cup debut, the Philippines will face world No. 21 Switzerland, whose last world appearance was in the Canadian FIFA, on July 21 in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Meanwhile, the 53rd-ranking Filipinas will be toiling with the 1995 champions and world No. 12 Norwegian booters, who are statistically the best team to beat in Group A, on July 25 in Wellington.

More so, the Filipina kickers are gearing towards a redemption arc after a 1-2 loss to the home-playing Kiwis in a friendly match last month in California, USA as they go through a sequel battle in the world stage on July 30 in Auckland.

The Filipino squad will have to lay hold of a top 2 spot in the group stage to advance into the knockout stage of the tournament.

The Philippines dodged a bullet from a possible matchup against two-peat defending champions USA and 2019 runners-up the Netherlands which were drawn together in a ruthless Group E alongside debuting team Vietnam and the winner of the playoffs between Cameroon, Thailand, and Portugal.

Earlier, New Zealand and Norway were officially set as the opening fixture of the 2023 edition on July 20.

This campaign marks the first-ever Philippine team, men’s or women’s, to snatch a slot in the FIFA World Cup in history.

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Draw Results

Group A

A1 New Zealand

A2 Norway

A3 Philippines

A4 Switzerland

Group B

B1 Australia

B2 Ireland

B3 Nigeria