MAZ Pacheco’s debut for the Filipinas will happen sooner rather than later as the Philippine Football Federation expects her Philippine passport to be issued anytime.
PFF director of national teams Freddy Gonzalez said he expects Pacheco to be available for the Philippine women's national team ffor the qualifiers of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup beginning in June.
“Maz Pacheco should have her passport already,” said Gonzalez recently.
READ Maz Pacheco stays committed as she awaits Philippine passport
Gonzalez said they are also waiting for the passport of other Filipinas pool members such as Alexia Blanco Llacuno, also known as Alexia Jr., who plays for Spanish Division 1 side Villareal.
“Since we’re not chasing a deadline, unlike the men’s, we’re chasing the February 25 deadline for registration for the Asian Cup qualifiers, there’s a little bit more room with the women’s because the Women’s Asian Cup qualifying doesn’t start until June. We have enough time to get their passports ready,” said Gonzalez.
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers is the first step in the Filipinas' bid to return to the FIFA Women’s World Cup to be held in 2027 in Brazil. In 2022, the Philippines qualified in the World Cup by reaching the semifinals of the Asian Cup held in India.
The 26-year-old Pacheco, an Aston Villa defender, has already participated in the Filipinas' training camp in Turkey last October while she awaits her Philippine passport that would make her eligible to play for the team.
Because she has yet to obtain a Philippine passport, Pacheco didn’t suit up for the Filipinas in friendly matches in the Pink Ladies Cup that coincided with the training camp in Turkey.
Women’s team coach Mark Torcaso was impressed with the attitude and professionalism that Pacheco, as a player who suited up in England’s Women’s Super League, brought to the team during their recent camp, and is excited to see her in a Filipinas jersey.
“Maz is excellent. She's a real professional, obviously played at the highest level for a long time. So she brought a real, a different aspect to our group of a player who’s played professionally at the highest level for a very long time.
"We only have a handful of those girls in our team currently so Maz brought a very, very big presence in regards to professionalism. She's a fantastic person and we can't wait for her to become a real Filipina when she gets her passport,” said Torcaso.
“Not a lot of people know that she lived here for a long time. She went to school here for a long time, but there's still some developments with her passport that we need to get through. Once she's going to put on that shirt and sing the national anthem, that's going to be a very proud moment for her and for us as a country,” said Torcaso.
There will be three international windows before the Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers, an opportunity for the Filipinas to use the time to build-up for the competition.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
