MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. expressed hope that the Philippine women’s national football team’s growing success on the international stage will spark wider interest in football among Filipinos and eventually propel the country to its first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance.
In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos cited the Filipinas as proof that Filipino athletes can compete with the world’s best, saying their achievements should inspire more young Filipinos to take up the sport.
“Sa halimbawa ng Filipinas women’s football team, sana rin ay mas sumikat pa ang football sa ating bansa at marami ang maglaro. Balang-araw, baka makasali na ang Pilipinas sa World Cup,” Marcos said.
The Filipinas have emerged as one of the country’s most successful national teams after qualifying for two straight FIFA Women’s World Cups, cementing their place in Philippine football history.
They likewise delivered one of the nation’s greatest sporting achievements in 2023 by defeating co-host New Zealand for the Philippines’ first-ever victory in a FIFA World Cup.
Marcos said sustained grassroots participation and growing public support for football could eventually translate into the country’s long-term goal of qualifying for a FIFA World Cup.
The President also underscored his administration’s increased investment in Philippine sports, revealing that government support has been tripled to help produce more elite athletes while promoting healthier lifestyles.
“Mahalaga rin sa atin ang sports. Itinaas natin nang triple ang suporta natin dito. Hindi lamang dahil sa aliw na hatid nito, kundi para sa kalusugan,” Marcos said.
Marcos also pointed to the success of Filipina tennis sensation Alexandra Eala, expressing hope that her achievements would encourage more Filipinos to embrace sports.
“Sa nag-uumapaw nating suporta kay Alex Eala, sana ay marami ang ma-engganyo para matuto at maglaro hindi lamang ng tennis kundi ng iba pang sport,” he said.
Eala recently became the first Filipina to reach the fourth round of Wimbledon and climbed to a career-high Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) ranking, further strengthening her status as one of the country’s brightest sporting stars./PN
