Philippines beats Uzbekistan 2-0 in an Asian playoff to secure a Women’s World Cup spot

By Canadian Press on March 18, 2026.

GOLD COAST, Australia (AP) — Angela Beard and Jaclyn Sawicki scored in a six-minute span to help Philippines secure a World Cup spot with a 2-0 victory over Uzbekistan in the playoffs of the Women’s Asian Cup on Thursday.

Philippines had nine shots at goal in the first half without being able to break the deadlock, but Beard only needed two minutes following the interval to make it 1-0 when she perfectly timed her run into the area to volley home a long, high cross.

Sawicki doubled the lead with a header from close range in the 52nd to ensure the Philippines qualified for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Six teams were guaranteed Women’s World Cup places from the continental championship. Australia, Japan, China and South Korea were assured places as quarterfinal winners. The quarterfinal losers went into playoffs at the Gold Coast on Thursday for two more spots.

North Korea was playing Taiwan in a night match, with the winner clinching a World Cup spot.

Semifinal recap

Tournament host Australia and two-time champion Japan will meet in Saturday’s final at Sydney’s Stadium Australia after semifinal wins.

Japan beat 2022 runner-up South Korea 4-1 in Sydney on Wednesday, a night after Sam Kerr ‘s Australia lineup edged defending champion China 2-1 in Perth.

For Japan, Riko Ueki opened the scoring in the 15th minute and Maika Hamano squeezed a right-foot strike between the near post and the goalkeeper in the 25th.

Saki Kumagai and Remina Chiba added second-half goals as Japan increased its tally to 28 goals with just one conceded in the tournament.

South Korea edged the Australians on goal difference in the group stage but struggled from the outset against Japan, the top-ranked team in Asia.

Japan beat Australia in back-to-back finals in 2014 and ’18. Australia has reached the championship match four previous times since joining the Asian confederation but has only won the title once, in 2010. Japan lost four finals before finally clinching the title in 2014 for the first time.

Japan is the only Asian team to have won the Women’s World Cup — beating the U.S. on penalties in the 2011 final.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

The Associated Press

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