History
Batungbacal team (2005–2007)
A Philippines women's futsal team was formed under Emmanuel Batungbacal five months prior to the 2005 Asian Indoor Games, their first international tournament. [4] [5]
Batungbacal first came into contact with Philippine Football Federation. At that time Johnny Romualdez was the federation president and former Ateneo player Domeka Garamenda was the secretary general. Batungbacal was given the green light to form a team but he had to rely on his funding. The team finished fourth place in the Asian Indoor Games. They later joined the 2007 Southeast Asian Games where they overcame Malaysia in the bronze medal game. [6] [7]
In 2007, José Mari Martínez would succeed Romualdez as PFF president. In 2009, the federation was riddled with controversy. The PFF Futsal Committee head Esmaeil Sedigh recommended Batungbacal's removal as head coach in early 2009, which prompted the resignation of the women's futsal team's players. [8] Batungbacal was allegedly removed for sending an unsanctioned women's futsal squad to the Vikings Futsal Cup in New Zealand although the coach presented a PFF document contradicting this claim. Martinez cites the coach's lack of coaching credentials for the move. [9]
Hermans program (2020–2024)
Dutch former player and coach Victor Hermans was brought in by the PFF in 2020 to serve as a technical consultant for futsal. [11] [12] [13]
The PFF under Hermans' advice revived the women's team and formed the core of the new team from players hailing from the Tuloy sa Don Bosco Foundation. The squad would train despite the COVID-19 pandemic. [14] In 2022, the new women's futsal team was unveiled adopting the moniker "Pinays". The team took part at the Pinay5 Futsal Faceoff, a two-game friendly series with Guam. [15] They lost the first game 0–1, but won the second one 3–1. [16]
The Philippines was announced to host the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup to be held in 2025 consequentially qualifying its national team for the tournament. [17]
Its first tournament as part of its preparation is the 2024 ASEAN Women's Futsal Championship in Pasig. The team was formed in short notice from try-outs participated by High 5 Futsal League and Philippine national football team players. [18] [19] The hosts narrowly missed a place in the third place playoff of the five-team tournament after losing 1–2 to their final group stage opponent Indonesia. They only needed a draw to advance. [20]
However in December 2024, Hermans was reportedly removed from his position and "realigned" with the men's program. Key players announced their resignment from the team over alleged disorganization within the team. [21] [22]
Team manager Danny Moran who has maintained support for Hermans, pushed through with the scheduled training camp in January 2024 as proof of the national futsal team including those who resigned. [23] [24]
Merino program (2025–)
The PFF hired Spanish coach Rafa Merino Rodriguez as the new head coach of the women's team in December 2024. [25] His appointment was announced in January 2025 with a new pool of players announced for the 2025 AFC Women's Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers [26] Only five players are holdovers from Hermans' team. [27] In the relevant press conference PFF President John Gutierrez has requested the media not to discuss controversies which unfolded in late 2024 until the tournament is over. [28] Moran demanded the PFF desist from using "Pinay 5" in subsequent official PFF events, alleging a breach of contract. [29]
The Philippines qualified for the 2025 AFC Women's Futsal Asian Cup in China as the best third-place team. [30] They however failed to progress out of the group stage in their debut appearance. [31]
They plan to have a training camp in Japan and Europe in preparation for the inaugural 2025 World Cup. [32]
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4 (April 4, 2025) [1] 
Philippines 1–8 Thailand 
Malaysia 2–5 Philippines 
Laos 1–4 Philippines 
Kuwait 1–4 Philippines 
Iran 18–2 Philippines 
Third place (2007)
