Philippines women’s soccer team roster: players, profiles, stars

Here’s your lowdown on the Philippines’ squad for the Women’s World Cup 2023. This article is part of a collaboration with the Guardian along with leading newspapers from each of the participating countries at the tournament.

This guide was written by Ryan Fenix for GMA News Online.

You can also check out Philippines in-depth team guide

Goalkeepers

Kiara Fontanilla

July 1, 2000

Central Coast Mariners, Goalkeeper

The California-raised keeper made her international debut in the most daunting way possible – facing an Australia team with a certain Sam Kerr in it. At the time she said she was “super excited, but also super nervous – this was against players I grew up watching”. The Matildas won 4-0 with Kerr getting two goals but Fontanilla would take away the positives. “The fact that we were able to hold them to a 0-0 draw in the first half showed that we are capable of really mixing with these teams.” It was an emotional day for Fontanilla, who had to take her dad back to the Philippines to get her citizenship as he had not been in the country for 40 years, and she explained: “When the game was over I literally couldn’t walk,” she told the Football Sack. “I sat down on the field and I just started crying. People asked what was wrong and I just said ‘I am so happy.’”

Kaiya Jota

February 5, 2006

Stanford Cardinal, Goalkeeper

With older sister Asia blazing a trail for her younger sibling, it is now Kaiya’s turn to be in the spotlight as she embarks on the start of her journey for the national team. Basketball runs in the family, with their late uncle Cesar Jota having played professionally in the Philippines, but it is football where Kaiya excels, and in the Filipinas the 17-year-old will have no shortage of mentors to help her improve. “Training with seniors has been amazing,” she has said. “Obviously I’m a lot younger than they are and just seeing their experience and the way that they play is amazing. I’ve learned so much from them and using that has been phenomenally helpful.” How did she end up in goal? “Basically I am not very fond of running,” she told MyBalitz.

Inna Palacios

February 8, 1994

Kaya FC Iloilo, Goalkeeper

Having your image immortalised on a credit card would be the pinnacle of many players’ careers but this veteran goalkeeper has already moved on to secure her legacy in other ways. Playing for the senior team since 2009, the home-grown goalkeeper says her purpose now “has become so much bigger than just playing. It’s about paving a pathway for the young generation and giving them more opportunities.” Her job on the pitch is far from over, however, as she tries to add to her 50-plus caps for her country, with her 18 clean sheets still an all-time team record.

Olivia Davies-McDaniel

October 14, 1997

So Cal Union FC, Goalkeeper

Her World Cup-berth-clinching heroics in the penalty shootout of the quarter-finals of the 2022 AFC Asian Cup – a penalty save, a penalty scored and another penalty save in succession against Chinese Taipei – are more than enough to write her name in Philippine football history.

But it is all in a day’s work for the BTS-loving Davies-McDaniel, who has been in goal for the national team on all the big occasions since her debut in 2021. She is a tall, commanding presence and has worked hard on her fitness to become a lot quicker as well. The sister of fellow squad member, Chandler McDaniel, she responded to criticism of the team consisting of too many players living and playing abroad: “It makes me feel bad, especially for some of the girls … Some people haven’t been really accepting but I think when you’re Filipino, you’re Filipino. You don’t need someone to tell you if you are, or you aren’t. We don’t need someone to tell us … because we know.”

Defenders

Hali Long

January 21, 1995

Kaya FC Iloilo, Defender

Without a question the heart and soul of the Filipinas defence, the US-born co-captain is looking forward to adding to her record number of caps – 74 and counting at the time of writing – during the tournament. The centre-back’s strengths are good positional awareness coupled with a strong physique and she is fearless when it comes to mixing it with opposing strikers. She scores too, mainly from set pieces, and has nearly 20 goals for the national team going into the tournament – but she will spend most of the time in Australia and New Zealand in her own half against the higher seeded teams in Group A. In 2019 she had to have an operation to correct her knee alignment.

Angie Beard

August 16, 1997

Western United FC, Defender

Her inclusion in the World Cup squad is the one that Filipinas fans have been the most excited about. The hugely experienced defender had three caps for Australia but because they were all friendlies she will now represent the country of her mother in the country of her birth. She brings with her a wealth of know-how from playing in Europe and in the A-League, and was named player of the season for Brisbane Roar at the tender age of 18. She had stints with Melbourne Victory and Denmark’s Fortuna Hjørring before this year signing with Western United, where she helped the team to second place in its debut season. Having fully recovered from an ankle injury she is expected to start at left-back in Alen Stajcic’s side.

Malea Cesar

December 9, 2003

Blacktown City, Defender

One of the fairytale stories of the team as she only found out about the trials for the national team one week before they took place. She was at high school at the time but still managed to secure a place and has now achieved another ambition in life – to be selected to play in a World Cup. The defender comes from a family of athletes – both parents did athletics and father Ben Jr represented the country in track in the SEA Games. Malea went to the 2012 Olympic Games final as an eight-year-old and was even able to touch Hope Solo’s gold medal. Told the Futbol Brew podcast that her favourite footballer growing up was Mia Hamm, who she describes as a team-first player and an inspiring leader.

Maya Alcantara

July 22, 2000

Georgetown University, Defender

Grew up in the United States in a big sports family in which almost everyone played high-level sports, although not football (apart from her older sister Gemma). It was, in fact, the friendly competitive nature of her relationship with her sister that paved the way for Alcantara to become better at the sport, to the point where she felt confident enough to reach out to the national team via the unconventional route of Instagram. She still needed to find time to earn a Master’s Degree in Environment and Sustainability Management from Georgetown University, which she did. Virgil van Dijk is her role model, which is fitting: elegant yet aggressive, technically sound and good in the air are descriptions that apply to the 1.78m tall Alcantara.

Sofia Harrison

February 16, 1999

Free agent, Defender/Wingback

Usually seen rampaging down the left-hand side, Harrison uses her speed to add width and provide an outlet to the Filipinas’ attack. However, equally important for the coach, Alen Stajcic, is that she is as reliable at the back as she is going forward. Signed for the Frauen-Bundesliga side Werder Bremen in the summer of 2022 and said she learned a lot despite leaving after six months. “I am very grateful and humbled to have seen another side to football, being able to play with a different group, see a different style and it’s definitely made me a stronger and better player.” Attributes which will help her – and the team – at the World Cup.

Alicia Barker

May 22, 1998

Pacific Northwest SC, Defender

She may have made her debut for the country only last December but the 25-year-old has impressed with her bruising brand of physical defending at right-back. Known for doing flip throw-ins during her time at University of Illinois, she is more than capable in the attacking third, where she makes good use of her dynamism while providing width on the flank. She is a threat in the air, which will be important in Australia and New Zealand with the Filipinas expected to rely quite heavily on set pieces going forward.

Eva Madarang

September 13, 1997

Blacktown Spartans FC Australia, Defender/Midfielder

The sight of Madarang snuffing out an opposition attack is common these days but she actually started her international career as a forward, scoring two goals in her first game for the country. She can now play in defence or in midfield and has a mean throw-in, which is a good attacking weapon for Alen Stajcic’s side.

“When I was younger, like when I started playing, I didn’t even know how to do a throw-in,” she once said. “But as I developed, it just got longer and longer and longer, and honestly, I have no idea. It just kind of happened. It’s a gift, I guess and I’m blessed to have that.”

Jessika Cowart

October 30, 1999

IFK Kalmar, Defender/Midfielder

Filipinas fans may have their hearts in their mouths when the central defender carries the ball out from the back, but she has been doing it for some time now and she is confident in her abilities. “It might be nerve-racking for fans to see me dribbling out from the back but trust me, I’m comfortable with it,” she says. “It’s definitely the style I grew up with, which is to always be comfortable with the ball, because that’s what football is about.” More importantly her “take-no-prisoners” style of defence could be key for the Filipinas as they are the underdogs in Group A.

Dom Randle

December 10, 1994

Thór/KA Iceland, Defender

What a journey Randle has been on. After a career in college football she gave up on sport due to a lack of opportunities and money in the women’s game but found herself being “the unhealthiest physically, mentally, and emotionally than ever was before in my life”. The pandemic gave her time to think and, with the help of her husband Da’ John Harris, a former NFL player, she decided to give the beautiful game another chance. “I would wake up at 5:30am to run hill sprints three to four times a week,” she told GMA News Online. “My strength coach from USC created a three-month strength training program. I practised at USC two to three times a week and with my WPSL coach two to three times a week.” She has become a cornerstone of the Filipinas defence and says she has “the strongest connection I have ever had with another centre-back” with international teammate Hali Long.

Reina Bonta

April 17, 1999

Santos FC, Defender

It is very rare to see a defender wear the No 10 shirt but then you don’t see someone like Reina Bonta that often either. She graduated from Yale University with a degree in film studies and is a budding filmmaker but for now her role as a centre-back for the Philippines will take centre stage. She moved from the US to the Brazilian side Santos – that of Pelé and Neymar – in March and her stock has already grown so much there that she has earned the nickname “ReiMar”. A strong central defender, she will be key in the Filipinas’ backline against the big guns in Group A.

Midfielder

Jackie Sawicki

November 14, 1992

Western United FC, Midfielder

Born in Canada to a Polish father and Filipino mother, she had the option to play for three national teams and played for Canada, back in 2011, before switching to the Philippines 10 years later. “It just felt right”, she says. “This was my way of showing gratitude and telling my mother that I am proud to be Filipino.” She is unlikely to grab any headlines or score the most goals but the stability and experience she provides in front of the back four is essential for a team making their World Cup debut. The fact that she was appointed captain for Western United in their maiden season, having just joined them, speaks volumes for her leadership qualities.

Sara Eggesvik

April 29, 1997

KIL/Hemme Norway, Midfielder

Born in Norway, she got into football because of her older brother and, after over a decade at Grand Bodø, she got the chance to play in England with Charlton in the second tier. “When I got to Charlton, the level [of play] was higher than what I was used to, and it was more physical football too,” she told Phil Star in 2020. “I learned a lot from being there and seeing a different type of football, it was very useful and interesting.”

Now back in Norway with KIL/Hemne, she made her international debut in 2022 and has impressed so much that she is one of the first names on Alen Stajcic’s team sheet going into the tournament. With excellent distribution and positional awareness, she is capable of scoring the odd long-range goal and can play across midfield, although she is at her best in the middle.

Tahnai Annis

June 20, 1989

Thór/KA Iceland, Midfielder

The captain is an example to her teammates on and off the pitch. She is an excellent passer of the ball and takes most of the set pieces. She may only be 1.55m tall but she stands out nevertheless. Born in the US and having played college football for Florida Gators, she is currently with Thór/KA in Iceland. An avid LGBTQI+ advocate, she is an ambassador for Athlete Ally, an organisation with the mission “to end homophobia and transphobia in sport and to activate the athletic community to exercise their leadership to champion LGBTQI+ equality”. She says: “I grew up in an environment and during a time in which it was very difficult for me to accept myself and live my truth. Soccer and sport is where I always felt most safe.”

Quinley Quezada

April 7, 1997

Crvena zvezda, Midfielder

Quezada is the joint top scorer for the country with 22 goals at the time of writing, with the most memorable arguably the one in the 2022 South East Asian Games to seal a comeback victory against Myanmar to win bronze for the Philippines. QQ, as she is called, was born in the US and did football, cross country running and athletics before focusing on the former. Played for clubs in the US, Thailand and Japan before joining Crvena zvezda in 2022. She may have played 72 minutes on the night World Cup qualification was sealed but she was still isolating from the rest of the squad because of a recent positive Covid test and told Beats and Rhymes FC: “I had to go back in a private car by myself. I definitely was tearing up and filled with so many emotions. I was so happy but also feeling a sense of FOMO, because I just knew the girls were going wild on the bus.”

Meryll Serrano

July 20, 1997

Stabæk, Midfielder

Teammate Sara Eggesvik describes Serrano “very funny” and says: “It is never boring being around her. She creates a good atmosphere by being herself and by her silliness.” Serrano carries this joie de vivre on to the pitch, with her style of play bringing joy and happiness to fans and teammates alike. She made her international debut only this year but immediately made her presence felt, scoring the only goal for the Philippines at the 2023 Pinatar Cup. Extremely comfortable with the ball at her feet, she is deadly at set pieces and has a muscle flex goal celebration to boot. Born in Norway to a Filipino mother, Serrano won the Norwegian double with LSK Kvinner in 2019 and turned out for Norway Under-23s before choosing to play for the Philippines at senior level.

Anicka Castañeda

December 16, 1999

Mount Druitt Town Rangers, Midfielder

The whole family – sibling, parents, grandparents – once famously made the trip to Kuala Lumpur to support Anicka and her older sister Sara in the 2017 SEA Games. With Sara out of the team for now it is Anicka who is making a mark for the Castañeda family. Able to play in any position across the midfield, she is an energetic option for the coach, Alen Stajcic. Eleven strikes for her country at the time of writing show she has an eye for goal and may be a good option to provide a spark off the bench.

Jessica Miclat

October 8, 1998

Eskilstuna United, Midfielder

She once claimed that “Hawaiian pizza is the best pizza of them all” but while her favourite choice of the classic Italian dish may raise a few eyebrows, there is no doubting her skills on the football pitch. International teammate Jackie Sawicki calls her “the best dribbler in the team”, and with Ronaldinho and Arjen Robben as her football idols, it is easy to understand how she got there. Her superb technical ability coupled with a tenacious style of play made the Philippines reach out to her at the tender age of 14 to join the national setup. An integral part of the World Cup-clinching campaign in India, Miclat adds bite in the Filipinas midfield and recently joined Swedish club Eskilstuna.

Bella Pasion

July 14, 2006

Solar 06 ECNL (Solar Soccer Club), Defensive Midfielder

Such is Pasion’s talent and ability to adjust to new surroundings that she made the step up from the under-20s to the senior team appear seamless. Described by the Philippines Under-20s coach, Nahuel Arrarte, as a “young gritty player who is very coachable and has a winning mentality”, Pasion made quite an impression in the AFC Under-20 Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers, which led to a place in the Olympic qualifying tournament and the SEA Games squads, where she performed beyond her young years. Arrarte added: “Very few players can handle that and she’s on the right track. If she continues to work hard she will achieve great things.”

Kaya Hawkinson

April 17, 2000

Cal State Fullerton Titans, Midfielder/Defender

Kaya means ‘we can’ in Filipino and Hawkinson certainly has a ‘can do’ attitude on the field for her country. Playing in midfield for the Philippines, Hawkinson is good on the ball and often tasked with providing a link between defence and attack, routinely keeping the team’s forward moves going with her accurate passing. Add the fact that she is a goal threat from long range with an ability to score from set pieces as well as having an impressive work rate and it is easy to see why she is an important player for the national team. Off the pitch, her teammates describe her as a person who always has a smile on her face and spreads positive vibes.

Ryley Bugay

January 23, 1996

Free agent, Midfielder/Defender

Inspired to pursue a medical degree after suffering from numerous operations in her career, Bugay was an integral part of the starting XI in the 2022 AFC Asian Cup which saw the Filipinas clinch their World Cup slot. A head injury ruled her out of the subsequent title-clinching AFF Championships, after which she took leave of absence from the team to start medical school.

She is now looking to make up for lost time and seeks to bring her trademark leadership, intelligence and defensive toughness to the Filipinas, attributes which earned her the nickname “Ry Boo Boo Glue” from her college coach because of how she keeps the team together.

Forwards

Katrina Guillou

December 19, 1993

Piteå, Forward

Made an immediate impact when she came on as a substitute for her international debut against Thailand in January 2022, hitting the bar straight away and being a general menace to the Thai defence. A few days later she scored her first goal for the national team. A very quick player, she can operate on either wing or as a centre-forward. Born in the US, she has played in Finland and Switzerland and is now in Sweden with top-flight club Piteå. The diminutive forward has gained invaluable experience in the various countries and has sharpened her ruthlessness in front of goal.

Sarina Bolden

June 30, 1996

Western Sydney Wanderers, Forward

Bolden’s status among the nation’s fans can be summed up by the fact that the Filipinas Ultras have a song dedicated to the forward, with her name sung to the tune of Can’t Take My Eyes Off You. The hugely popular 27-year-old is tenacious and aggressive and, most importantly, a frequent scorer. Her 22 goals in 37 appearances, at the time of writing, is a good return and the team will need her to be clinical at the tournament.

After not seeing much action in Japan’s We League with Elfen Saitama, a move to Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-league Women has given her much needed game time ahead of the World Cup. Another US-born member of the team, she believes that playing at a first World Cup will be good for women’s football in the Philippines. “I still talk to people today who don’t even know there’s a Philippines women’s national soccer team. So, I’m like, ‘Yeah there is.’ But before I joined, I didn’t even know,” she told fifa.com in June.

Chandler McDaniel

February 4, 1998

So Cal Union FC, Forward

“God works in mysterious ways,” McDaniel posted on Instagram in February 2022 after a few rollercoaster days for the forward at the Asian Cup. “In the span of a few days He Blessed me and the PWNT with winning a spot to the World Cup and then challenged me with yet another major injury,” she continued. That injury proved to be an ACL rupture that kept her out of action for 16 months, but she is now back on the pitch and looking to make up for lost time. Born in California, her sister Olivia Davies-McDaniel is also in this squad, as a goalkeeper, while their younger brother, Flynn, plays for Stallion FC in the Philippines’ domestic league.

Carleigh Frilles

April 11, 2002

Blacktown Spartans, Forward

One of many in the squad born in the United States but unlike several of the others, the gutsy forward made her international debut for the Philippines at under-14 level, back in 2014. The fastest player to have reached 37 caps for her country, she is well aware that her journey can serve as an inspiration for young girls in the Philippines. “The most important thing for me is to show people that they can do what I do,” she says. “They can play for the youth teams and then make their way to the senior team. It just really comes from hard work – you just keep working and doing what you love and you’ll make it.”

Bella Flanigan

February 22, 2005

Montverde Eagles, Forward

Apart from perhaps Filipino food staples palabok and inasal, there could be nothing the crowd favourite Flanigan likes more than adding to her goals for her country (three at the time of writing). She is only 18 but the crowd in Manila already sings her name to the tune of KC and the Sunshine Band’s Give it Up when she enters the pitch. She played in the AFF Under-18 tournament just days after clinching the women’s senior AFF Tournament trophy and she will look to provide an extra option – and a different dynamic – in attack for Alen Stajcic.