The Philippine women’s football team could face a difficult road back to the Fifa Women’s World Cup.

This after the Filipinas were drawn alongside host Australia, South Korea and Iran in Group A of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup on Tuesday.

READ: Filipinas clinch third straight AFC Asian Cup berth

Coach Mark Torcaso seemed to be in disbelief during the proceedings as the ladies will need to go through the needle to secure a direct slot in the quarterfinals.

The top two teams in each of the three groups advance to the quarters along with the two best third placers.

Six slots for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil are at stake in the Asian Cup, the four given to the semifinalists and the two winners of the play-in matches, the last opportunity for the quarterfinal losers to qualify.

READ: Filipinas begin World Cup return trek on high note

The Filipinas open their campaign on March 1 against Australia in Perth, followed by South Korea on March 5 in Gold Coast and Iran on March 8 also in Gold Coast.

While Iran is winnable, the Philippines has lost its recent matches against South Korea and Australia by convincing margins.

And if the similar scenario occurs, the Filipinas will be in a world of trouble, unless they rediscover the grit that allowed them to play their maiden World Cup appearance exactly two years ago.