The Aussie who wants to crash Matildas’ Asian Cup party

Anna Harrington | January 9, 2026

Mark Torcaso is the Australian ready to crash the Matildas’ Asian Cup party.

The Philippines coach and his charges lock horns with Joe Montemurro’s Australia in the tournament opener in Perth on March 1.

Torcaso’s team was humbled 8-0 by Australia in Olympic qualifying back in October 2023.

But he is adamant a new-look team will prove a far sterner test this time.

“We were joking around with Joe Montemurro, who I know quite well, and we were hoping that we wouldn’t draw each other,” ex-Western United coach Torcaso said.

“So it was obviously a bit of a shock, but then it was obviously exciting as well.

“So we get a chance for a bit of redemption from the last time that we played the Matildas in Perth. So we’re pretty excited by it.”

Saturday marks 50 days before the Asian Cup starts, and Torcaso hopes gun striker Sarina Bolden will be fit after tearing her ACL in April.

“We’re going to give her every single chance to be part of it,” he said.

“Our aim is to get her on the field. 

“If, by chance, it doesn’t fall that way, then she has a very special place in every Filipino’s heart for what she’s done for our country, and there’ll be a little bit in every player obviously playing for her if she’s not there.”

The opening game is special for Melburnian Torcaso, 44, and Queensland-born defender Angie Beard, 28, who switched allegiances after three Matildas caps.

“It’s definitely going to be extra special for anyone that’s connected to Australia,” Torcaso said. 

“But we’re representing the Philippines, and we’ve got a job to do, and we’re passionate about doing that for our country and our people back in Manila and the Philippines.”

The tournament doubles as qualifiers for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

After experiencing that stage in 2023, the Philippines are determined to return by getting out of a group including Australia, South Korea and Iran.

Torcaso will urge his charges, supported by a large Filipino diaspora, to back up their recent Southeast Asian Games gold-medal win. 

“We’ll use that same drive and that same message that we want to be hungry, we want to be hungry for each other, we want to fight for each other, and we want to cause and create a little more history,” he said.

“And that’s going to be our same goal. 

“And yes, there’s some fantastic players in the Matildas, there’s no doubt about it. But we’ve also got some players that are playing at some really, really good levels in Europe, some good levels in the US, and they’re getting better and better as as we keep going.

“I believe with a really good preparation, we may be able to shock any team in our group and advance out, and that’s our goal.

“So we’re looking forward to it and I’m hoping that every fan, every person that has Filipino blood, is going to come and watch us and support us in Perth for that first game.”