THERE will actually be two games that the Philippines and Australia will be playing against each other on Sunday.
For the most ardent basketball fan, the focus will be on Sunday’s game between Gilas Pilipinas and the Boomers at the Mall of Asia Arena, the first time both teams will play in the Philippines since July 2, 2018 where an all-out brawl marred the contest at the Philippine Arena.
Football fans, however, will also have its sights set on Sunday’s game between the Filipinas and the Matildas to open the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
READ: Filipinas ready to play and unlock new achievements in AFC Women's Asian Cup
This women’s football match-up will be held at the Perth Stadium where the venue that can sit as many as 65,000 fans are expected to full the stadium to the brim.
The two games involving the Philippines and Australia are qualification matches for the World Cup.
Gilas Pilipinas is in the early stages of its qualification bid for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 in Qatar where it is vying for eight places accounted for Asia. The Australia match is its third game of the qualification phase.
Though it is an Asian Cup, the tournament also serves as a qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup also to be held next year in Brazil. Six automatic spots for Asia are up for grabs.
The Philippine men’s basketball team and women’s football team are also facing formidable foes.
Australia is currently ranked No. 6 in the world, although the Boomers won’t be fielding their best roster since the NBA is ongoing.
That won’t be the case for Australia’s Women’s Asian Cup bid as Sam Kerr, who plays for Chelsea in England and is considered one of the best strikers in the world, will be in action for the Matildas.
A total of 10 more players from the Matildas side are playing in England including Mary Fowler (Manchester City), Emily Van-Egmond (Leicester City), and Alanna Kennedy (London City Lionnesses).
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