Opening Day Results: Argentina and Poland Dominate Group A

Argentina 6–0 Morocco: The inaugural match of the first FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup saw Argentina thrash Morocco 6–0 in Manila, marking a historic debut for the tournament. A crowd of 1,378 at PhilSports Arena witnessed Argentina race to a 4–0 halftime lead, eventually adding two more in the second half. Ana Ontiveros scored the World Cup’s first-ever goal, pouncing on a rebound in the 15th minute. “Very happy… I visualized that moment a lot… I wanted to score a goal in the first game, and luckily it happened, and it was the first one,” Ontiveros said of her landmark goal. Argentina’s relentless four-goal flurry within four minutes (Ontiveros, Agostina Chiesa, Mailén Romero, Luciana Natta) left the outcome virtually sealed by halftime. Second-half strikes by Lara Villalba and Julia Dupuy completed the rout. Argentine media celebrated “una goleada histórica” (a historic rout) in the very first World Cup match, and indeed Argentina became the first team ever to earn three points in a women’s futsal World Cup.

(Main picture: Bella Flanigan, Philippines National Futsal Team, Photo: RM Chua/One Sports)

Morocco, the African champion, struggled with the pace of play. Local reports described it as a “heavy defeat” with Morocco’s attempts unable to dent the deficit. The Moroccan side, largely composed of players who normally play 11-a-side football, faced an adaptation challenge. “It wasn’t easy to go from the traditional field to the smaller futsal courts… this discipline requires quick decision-making… But through hard work, I managed to adapt,” admitted 21-year-old Malak Al-Kilani, who transitioned from Morocco’s soccer ranks into futsal. Despite the setback, Morocco will aim to regroup in their next match against the Philippines on November 24.

Philippines 0–6 Poland: In the later Group A match, host nation Philippines, cheered on by an electric home crowd of 2,211 fans, fell 0–6 to Poland. The Filipina5 (as the Philippine team is nicknamed) showed early defensive grit, but world No. 14 Poland’s precision eventually broke through. Joanna Basta opened the scoring in the 6th minute and went on to bag a brace. By halftime, Poland led 2–0, and they poured in four more goals after the break through Natalia Matuszewska, Julia Szostak, a Philippine own-goal, and Klaudia Dymińska. Polish captain Julia Basta’s two goals punctuated a statement win that puts Poland atop Group A on goal difference.

Polish media and officials lauded the result as a milestone. “Historyczny dzień! Duża sprawa dla polskiego futsalu” (A historic day! A big deal for Polish futsal), declared PZPN President Cezary Kulesza on social media, praising the team for a 6–0 opening victory and “showing class” on the world stage. For the tournament hosts, the heavy defeat was a tough learning experience. “It was not the result we envisioned… We’ve got a lot to learn from and a lot to fix,” admitted Philippines captain Bella Flanigan, reflecting on the debut loss. Flanigan remained upbeat about improvement: “Going into the next [match], it’s going to be a very good experience… We’re putting this behind us so we can go in fresh and fine”. Indeed, despite the scoreline, the 20-year-old Flanigan, one of several dual football/futsal World Cup athletes on the squad, noted bright spots in the Filipinas’ defensive shape and stressed the importance of consistency at this level.

The Philippines’ opening loss comes against a backdrop of pre-tournament turbulence. Long time coach Vic Hermans, who spent three years building the futsal program, was suddenly replaced a few months before the World Cup, a move that sparked internal turmoil. Several home-grown futsal players, including then-captain Isabella Bandoja, even resigned in protest amid reports that roster spots were being given to women’s football (soccer) players with little futsal experience. “I cannot join the team if they will replace the players with those who don’t even have a futsal background… How can the team perform with only a week to prepare and no futsal experience?” one veteran player had lamented. In fact, three members of the Filipina5 (Katrina Guillou, Jaclyn Sawicki, and Flanigan) had just played for the Philippines in the 2023 FIFA Women’s football World Cup, an unprecedented dual-role that brought star power but stirred debate. New head coach Rafa Merino, a Spaniard appointed after Hermans’ exit, infused fresh faces and even took the team on a training camp in Spain. Now, after a humbling first outing, Merino’s squad knows it must integrate those lessons quickly. “Going into the next match, we’re going to take everything from this game, learn from it, and then put it behind us,” Flanigan emphasized, as the hosts focus on bouncing back against Morocco.

Global Media Coverage and Commentary

Argentina: The historic nature of Argentina’s win led sports headlines back home. “Argentina hizo historia en el debut del Mundial de futsal femenino,” declared TyC Sports, noting that Nicolás Noriega’s squad earned “el primer triunfo en la historia del certamen” (the first win in the tournament’s history) with a contundente 6-0 scoreline. Outlets like Olé and Clarín likewise highlighted the historic first goal by Ontiveros and the Albiceleste’s status as early favourites. The Argentine camp exuded pride but remained grounded. Ontiveros said the team will take it “game by game” despite the big win, mindful that “we have to win all three games to move on; it’s an obligation… We are calm; we are going step by step”. She also remarked on the warm Philippine reception and the steamy conditions, “a lot of heat… but we are doing very well. The people are very kind, and we are very happy to be here”.

Morocco: In Morocco, coverage struck a somber tone. Press reports spoke of a “heavy defeat” and acknowledged Argentina’s superior quality. As one English-language outlet put it, the Moroccan team was “sucked the life out of” by Argentina’s four-goal first-half burst. There is recognition that the Moroccan women’s futsal program is nascent, the team only just became African champions this year, and that several players are actually crossover athletes from the 11-a-side game. “This match exposed the gap in experience,” one analysis noted, citing the need for more dedicated futsal development. Nonetheless, coach Hicham Dguig stressed that “the tournament is not over” and vowed the Lionesses would fight to restore pride in the next matches. Local fans on social media sent messages of support, reminding the players that just reaching the World Cup, and representing Africa in the inaugural edition, is an achievement in itself.

Poland: Polish media celebrated their national team’s dream start. Sports channel Polsat Sport hailed the “świetny występ” (brilliant performance) of the Polish women, recapping the goal glut and noting that in the day’s other match “Argentyna wygrała także 6:0”. Poland’s soccer federation president, Cezary Kulesza, publicly rejoiced on X (Twitter) about the “historyczny dzień” for Polish futsal. “Brawo dziewczyny! Pokazałyście dzisiaj klasę,” he wrote, “Bravo, girls! You showed class today”, while urging them to keep it up in the tougher tests ahead. There is growing buzz in Poland around coach Wojciech Weiss’s team, which only a year ago had to come through a tight European qualifying tournament. Polish outlets have begun drawing comparisons to the men’s team’s rise, and pundits note this emphatic win will raise futsal’s profile back home. Next up is a showdown with Argentina, and the Polish camp knows a result there could truly announce them as contenders. “We came here to compete with the best,” Coach Weiss said, emphasizing that his squad gained confidence from friendly matches against Portugal and now “believe we can reach the knockout stage”.

Philippines: Despite the lopsided score, Filipino media focused on the milestone of the country’s first futsal World Cup appearance. “Filipina5 bows to Poland in historic debut,” one news outlet reported, emphasizing that simply stepping onto the global stage was a victory of sorts for the underdog hosts. The Philippine Daily Inquirer described the atmosphere at PhilSports Arena as “electric,” with drums and cheers unrelenting even as goals piled up against the home side. ABS-CBN News noted that the Philippines “fell prey to Poland, 6-0, in front of an electric home crowd” and highlighted the unity shown by fans in chanting “Puso!” (Heart!) throughout the match. Post-game, team captain Bella Flanigan’s positive outlook made headlines. “Soaks in lessons from… losing debut,” read one feature, quoting Flanigan’s resolve to learn and thanking supporters for the encouragement. There was also discussion of the controversial pre-tournament roster moves: several commentators defended the inclusion of crossover footballers, pointing out that Guillou, Sawicki and Flanigan’s high-level experience can only elevate the team. However, others in the local futsal community remain critical, echoing the resigned players’ sentiment that “futsal is a different game” and that grassroots players deserved the World Cup slots. This debate has been widely covered in Philippine sports media, adding pressure on Coach Merino. Moving forward, the media narrative has shifted to one of determination: the Manila Bulletin ran the headline “Bouncing Back is the Goal” ahead of the next match, and Flanigan was quoted assuring fans that the Filipina5 “will come out stronger, for country and for each other”. The stage is set for a spirited response as the hosts seek their first goal, and first win, in front of their home fans.

Looking Ahead: Day 2 Showdowns in Group B

Matchday 2 brings Group B into the spotlight, featuring a clash of traditional futsal powers and rising newcomers:

• Colombia vs Canada (Nov 22, 09:00 local UK time): A fascinating matchup pits Colombia, a nation with deep futsal roots, against Canada, a newcomer riding momentum. Colombia’s women have long excelled in the AMF futsal circuit (the sport’s other governing body), having won multiple unofficial world titles – in fact, Colombia are the reigning AMF Women’s World Cup champions from 2022. Many of their players come from a rich microfútbol culture and a domestic league that predates FIFA’s involvement. Look out for Nicole Mancilla, a 22-year-old pivot who was the top scorer at this year’s Copa América de Futsal and is hailed as futsal’s “Best Women’s Young Player”. In contrast, Canada’s women’s futsal program is brand new, yet they stunned the region by winning the inaugural CONCACAF W Futsal Championship in May, earning their World Cup berth in style. Under coach Alexandre Da Rocha, Canada embraced a “nothing to lose” mentality and defeated regional powers including the USA and Mexico en route to the title. “We entered believing we could compete, and now we leave as champions,” Da Rocha said of that Cinderella run. Canada’s squad features several multi-sport athletes and is led by sharpshooter Esther Brossard, who scored 8 goals at the CONCACAF tournament and was named MVP. This meeting will be a classic experience vs. momentum scenario: Colombia’s futsal pedigree vs. Canada’s fresh confidence. International pundits have pegged Colombia as the favorite (they’re ranked world No. 8 to Canada’s No. 74), but warn that the Canadians could be a wild card. “Canada is on a dream run, you underestimate them at your peril,” a FIFA.com preview noted. Both teams are eager to start strong: Colombia to validate their status as a contender under FIFA, and Canada to prove their CONCACAF triumph wasn’t a one-off fluke.

• Spain vs Thailand (Nov 22, 19:30 local): This is the heavyweight bout of Day 2. Spain’s women’s futsal team comes in as world No. 2 and a three-time European champion, making them joint favourites of the tournament. Coached by Clàudia Pons, “La Roja” have dominated UEFA’s Women’s Futsal EURO since its inception, winning the last three editions in a row. Their roster boasts star names from a robust Spanish league, notably Irene Samper, a dynamic winger who has three Euro golds to her name, and Peque (Patricia González), the 2022 World Futsal Awards’ Best Female Player. However, Spain was dealt a blow just before the tournament: captain Peque and veteran Mayte Mateo both suffered injuries in training and were ruled out at the last minute. Even missing some legends (including long-time captain Ana Luján, out with an ACL injury), Spain’s depth remains formidable. Pons has called on her team to embrace the magnitude of the moment: “It’s the biggest challenge, a World Cup. There’s an aura to it… We carry the work of all the generations that imagined this,” she said, noting the emotional significance of finally playing a FIFA World Cup after years of waiting. Their opponents, Thailand (world No. 4), are Asia’s surprise package and have no intention of being overawed. Over the past decade, Thailand has heavily invested in futsal, especially after hosting the men’s Futsal World Cup in 2012. That effort has paid off: the Thai women consistently medaled in Asian competitions and reached the final of the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup 2025 (finished runners-up to Japan). Coached by Udom Taveesuk, Thailand plays a fast, technical game and will lean on veterans like Jiraporn Juangjan and goalkeeper Pannipa Kamolrat. Their star to watch is Peerapat Kaewwilai, a skilful ala (wing) who scored several highlight-reel goals during Asian qualifiers. Thai media frame this match as “the ultimate test”, a chance to see how far their program has come. Spain and Thailand actually met in a friendly last year, with Spain winning narrowly, so there is a precedent that gives the underdogs some belief. Still, Spain’s pedigree (they qualified for this World Cup by dominating European qualifiers 13-2 aggregate) makes them clear favourites. “We know Spain’s level, it’s up to us to match their intensity,” Thailand’s captain stated in a pre-game press conference. Many expect a high-quality encounter: Spain’s polished attack vs. Thailand’s spirited, never-say-die approach. A win for Spain would confirm their contender status, while a shock win or even a draw for Thailand would send ripples through the tournament.

As the tournament moves into its second day, excitement continues to build. FIFA’s daily bulletin dubbed Matchday 2 the moment when “Spain and sensations take centre stage,” anticipating that the skill and pedigree on display could produce some of the World Cup’s early classics. With Colombia-Canada and Spain-Thailand, fans will see a blend of futsal’s rich history and its accelerating global growth. After an opening day that already delivered historic firsts, first matches, first goals, first wins, the narrative now shifts to whether the favourites can live up to the hype and how the underdogs respond. All four teams in action on Day 2 have voiced a common sentiment: they’re not here just to participate, but to make history of their own. If Day 1 was any indication, the 2025 Women’s Futsal World Cup is off to a thrilling start, and there’s plenty more drama to come. “The world’s best and brightest are in the Philippines… ready to engage in an exciting battle to be the first-ever champions,” as one local outlet aptly put it. The stage is set for more narratives to unfold under the bright lights of Pasig, and by the end of Day 2, the tournament picture will become clearer as new contenders and storylines emerge.

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