The Philippine women’s national futsal team earned high praise from Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick Gregorio following their spirited run in the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup 2025.
The Filipina5 bowed out of the tournament on Thursday night after a 1–5 defeat to world No. 6 Argentina at the PhilSports Arena. Despite finishing with a 0–3 record, the squad was cheered on by more than 2,800 fans who celebrated their courage and historic participation.
Gregorio lauded the team’s effort and expressed confidence that the Philippines can rise to futsal’s global stage.
“I was looking at Team Argentina. Nothing is different—same size, same physique. The only difference is they’ve been doing it for 50 years. But if we put our minds and hearts into this, can we do it? Yes,” he said.
A Goal That Made History
Isabella Bandoja provided a highlight for the home crowd in the second half, scoring the Filipina5’s lone goal against Argentina.
Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president John Gutierrez hailed the moment as more than just a statistic.
“It is a statement that Filipinas can compete with the best. The PFF will continue to stand behind this team and ensure that futsal grows stronger in the Philippines. With heart, discipline, and belief, we can achieve more,” Gutierrez said.
Hard-Fought Campaign
The Filipina5’s journey included a 0–6 loss to Poland and a heartbreaking 2–3 defeat to Morocco, where they surrendered a two-goal lead. Still, Gregorio emphasized the significance of their participation.
“This is historic, right? We hosted the first-ever FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup. And we played so well,” he noted.
Beyond the Tournament
Gregorio underscored that hosting the World Cup was part of a broader mission: to grow futsal, showcase Filipino talent, and elevate football’s profile in the country.
He recalled a late-night meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, where he pressed the case for football’s growth in the Philippines.
“Football is the number one sport in the world. But how come we cannot engage and convince 112 million Filipinos to play the sport? How come football is not in the top three sports in the Philippines?” Gregorio asked.
According to him, Infantino pledged FIFA’s support in making football one of the Philippines’ top three sports, alongside the PSC and PFF.
Gregorio closed his message with encouragement for the team:
“Because I believe in you, you have to believe, too. And if you believe, 112 million Filipinos will believe. And we’re proud of you.”
