The Philippine women’s national football team is officially heading to the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup after sweeping Group G in the qualifiers with a gritty 1-0 win against Hong Kong on Saturday night at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh.
With nine points, 10 goals scored, and not a single goal conceded, the Filipinas completed a clean sweep in dominant fashion—having earlier crushed Cambodia (6-0) and Saudi Arabia (3-0).
The early hero of the night was Chandler McDaniel, who struck just four minutes into the game to put the Philippines ahead. Despite Hong Kong threatening an equalizer in the 20th minute, goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel stood firm, denying Cheung Wai Ki and preserving the lead into halftime.
The Filipinas came close to extending their advantage, with multiple chances from McDaniel, Quinley Quezada, and Jackie Sawicki narrowly missing the target. But it was their defensive composure that sealed the result in the closing minutes, especially with another crucial save from Olivia in the 81st minute.
“The team had a goal and it was to win all three games and do the best we absolutely could,” said Chandler McDaniel after the match. “Three games in six days is always hard, but we showed a lot of heart.”
She also thanked the Filipino fans who showed up in Cambodia: “We love seeing all of our Filipinas out to support us. We’re just so happy we were able to give them the three wins and the result they deserved.”
With this win, the Philippines joins host Australia, China, South Korea, Japan, and Bangladesh as early qualifiers for next year’s Asian Cup—the gateway to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
This marks the Filipinas’ third straight appearance in the continental tournament, and the team is hoping to build on the momentum from their historic 2022 run, where they eventually booked a World Cup ticket for the first time.
