PH reveals 23-player roster for 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

The Philippine women's national football team (PWNFT) unveiled its official 23-player lineup for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup on Sunday, July 9.

The roster, composed of holdovers and returnees from previous Philippine squads, was announced through PWNFT's social media pages, with young girls playing football and tapping each player's name on white shirts.

Tahnai Annis and Hali Long will serve as captain and co-captain of the 46th-ranked Filipinas guided by Alen Stajcic.

Defending the post for the World Cup debutant are goalkeepers Olivia McDaniel (Stallion Laguna), Kiara Fontanilla (Central Coast Mariners), and Kaiya Jota (Stanford University).

The keepers will get the much-needed support from defenders Long (Kaya-Iloilo), Alicia Barker (Pacific Northwest), Angela Beard (Western United), Reina Bonta (Santos), Malea Cesar (Blacktown City), Jessika Cowart (Kalmar), Sofia Harrison (free agent), and Dominique Randle (Þór/KA).

Aside from Ahnis (Þór/KA), Ryley Bugay (free agent), Anicka Castañeda (Mt. Druitt Town Rangers), Sara Eggesvik (KIL/Hemne), Quinley Quezada (Red Star Belgrade), and Jacklyn Sawicki (Western United) will provide the creativity and flair as midfielders.

ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Women's Championship 2022 top goalscorer Sarina Bolden (Western Sydney Wanderers) will lead the pack of forwards, including Isabella Flanigan (West Virginia University), Carleigh Frilles (Blacktown Spartans), Katrina Guillou (Piteå), Chandler McDaniel (Stallion Laguna), and Meryll Serrano (Stabæk).
Goalie Inna Palacios (Kaya-Iloilo), defender Maya Alcantara (Georgetown University), and midfielder Isabella Pasion (Lebanon Trail High School) will come off the bench as reserves.

READ: 100 Things to Know about the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

"We congratulate the 23 players who were selected for the Philippines in the FIFA Women's World Cup and express our gratitude to the players who have committed and sacrificed to make themselves available throughout the selection process," Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President Mariano Araneta said in a statement.

"The next weeks will be the culmination of a year and a half of hard work, dedication and sacrifice by every member of our Team," team manager Jefferson Cheng also stated in the same statement released by PFF.

"This group of 23 represents the best of us, the best of the indomitable Filipino spirit, and I am excited to see them make all of us even prouder," Cheng added.

Concluding their four-week training camp in Sydney, Australia, the Philippines will travel to Auckland, New Zealand for further preparations ahead of the country's FIFA Women's World Cup opening match against Switzerland on July 21 in Dunedin, NZ.

Before that, they will face world number three Sweden in an unofficial match.

After facing the Swiss side, the Philippines will battle host New Zealand on July 25 in Wellington before closing their group stage campaign versus Norway on July 30 in Auckland.