The Philippines women’s national football team has made history in Southeast Asia. For the first time since their debut at the SEA Games, the Philippines claimed the women’s football gold medal after defeating regional powerhouse Vietnam in a dramatic penalty shootout, winning 6–5 in the final of the 2025 SEA Games at Chonburi Daikin Stadium, Thailand (December 17).
The final was a tense and tightly contested affair. Both teams were held scoreless for 120 minutes, forcing the championship to be decided by penalties.
Philippines goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel emerged as the hero, saving the spot kick taken by Tran Thi Thu, the only miss among the 12 players who stepped up.
The victory made the Philippines the third nation to win a SEA Games women’s football gold medal, following Vietnam, who have collected eight titles, and Thailand, with five championships. The result also marked a historic milestone for Philippine football, which for decades had struggled to break the regional dominance of Vietnam and Thailand.
Philippines’ Steel Mentality Answers Doubts and Pressure
The Philippines’ success did not come overnight. Their campaign began with a disappointing 1–2 defeat to Myanmar in the opening group-stage match.
However, the team known as the Filipinas responded strongly, defeating Vietnam 1–0 and thrashing Malaysia 6–0 to secure a place in the semifinals.
In the last four, the Philippines were tested again against host nation Thailand. After a 1–1 draw over 120 minutes, they once more showed composure from the penalty spot, winning 4–2 to guarantee at least a medal and a place in the final.
The final against Vietnam, who were chasing a fifth consecutive title, posed another severe mental challenge. Vietnam controlled several phases of the match and briefly believed they had taken the lead when a second-half goal was disallowed for offside.
The decision sparked controversy, especially as replays appeared to show the Vietnamese attacker was onside. The absence of VAR at the SEA Games further fueled frustration within the Vietnam camp.
Despite the pressure, the Philippines stayed focused. In the shootout, Jael-Marie Guy, Alexa Pino, Hali Long, Angie Beard, Ariana Markey, and Jaclyn Sawicki all converted their penalties with confidence. McDaniel then sealed the gold medal for the Philippines.
“People are doubting us, saying we don’t belong here. But we belong in this conversation, we belong at the top, and we’re just continuing to prove ourselves again and again, and we want to be regulars at the top,” McDaniel said after the match.
Team captain Hali Long also emphasized that an unyielding mentality was key to their triumph.
“We never wanted to end on a loss; we were going to win gold or we were going to win bronze. We gave ourselves no choice, so the gold was ours for the taking,” Long said.
The Peak of a Long Journey
This gold medal represents the culmination of a long journey for the Philippines in Southeast Asian women’s football. Previously, they secured a bronze medal at the 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam.
They then maintained consistency by winning the 2022 ASEAN Women’s Championship, before capturing global attention with a 1–0 victory over host nation New Zealand at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The triumph at the 2025 SEA Games also served as redemption for the Philippines following disappointment at the 2025 ASEAN Women’s Championship, where they were eliminated in the group stage despite entering the tournament as defending champions.
This time, they answered all doubts with the highest possible achievement at the regional level.
Forty years after their first appearance at the SEA Games, the Philippines have finally claimed the women’s football gold medal. All 23 players have now etched their names into history, although the spotlight once again fell on Olivia McDaniel, who emerged as a key figure in decisive moments.
Meanwhile, Vietnam were forced to relinquish their ambition of securing a fifth consecutive title. Despite frustration over refereeing decisions, they acknowledged the resilience of the Philippines, who played with discipline and efficiency under pressure.
