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Jonathan White

Hong Kong’s women’s football team will face the Philippines and Nepal in qualifiers for the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup after the draw was made by the Asian Football Confederation on Thursday.
The group F matches, which also act as the first round of qualifiers for the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup will take place in Nepal from September 13 to 25.
However, Nepal is among the Hong Kong government’s list of A1 high-risk countries, along with Brazil, AFC Women’s Asian Cup hosts India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines and South Africa.
Head coach Ricardo Rambo welcomed the draw but noted that travel to Nepal from Hong Kong may yet prove problematic given the high-risk rating.

The @PilipinasWNFT were drawn to Group F for the #WAC2022 qualifiers!

The will face Hong Kong and Nepal in the qualifiers to be held from 13-25 September 2021 in Nepal!#PFF#PWNT pic.twitter.com/bIQkwT2IOy
— The Philippine Football Federation (@philfootball) June 24, 2021

But in football terms, the teams are around Hong Kong’s level, he said, boosting hopes of progress towards a first Asian Cup appearance since 2003.
The Philippines are ranked No 68 in the world but were among the top seeds in the draw, while Nepal are ranked 101st.
Women’s football hopes for more despite New Year showcase being scrapped
Hong Kong, who are ranked No 76 in the world, last played the Philippines in September, 2019, with the game ending in a 1-1 draw at Tseung Kwan O.


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Hong Kong to face Philippines, Nepal in Women’s World Cup qualifiers

The Hong Kong women's representative football team line up ahead of playing the Philippines at Tseung Kwan O in September, 2019. Photo: HKFA

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Hong Kong women's head coach Ricardo Rambo. Photo: HKFA

Hong Kong women's U-18s footballer Sneha Limbu poses with teammates ahead of a national game against Guam. Photo: Handout

(centre) Betty Wong Yeuk-ling, the women's football manager of Hong Kong Football Association, at the Hong Kong Jockey Club HKFA Football Training Centre in Tseung Kwan O. 30SEP19 SCMP / David Wong

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Hong Kong women’s head coach Ricardo Rambo takes a training session. Photo: HKFA

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Hong Kong women’s head coach Ricardo Rambo instructs his team. Photo: HKFA

(190227) -- ALBUFEIRA, Feb. 27, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Chinese women's soccer player Wang Shuang (C) and her teammates take part in a training session in Albufeira, Portugal, Feb. 26, 2019. The 2019 Algarve Cup will be held in Algarve of Portugal from Feb. 27 to March 6, 2019. Chinese women's soccer team will face their first opponent the Norwegian team on March 1. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

epa07597538 United States women's national soccer team players (L-R) Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, and Alex Morgan attend the media day leading up to the upcoming 2019 FIFA Women World Cup soccer tournament in New York, New York, USA, 24 May 2019. The 2019 FIFA Women World Cup begins in June in France. EPA-EFE/JUSTIN LANE

FILE - In this Aug. 6, 2016, file photo, Brazil's Marta, left, leaps over Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl as she attempts a shot on goal during the Olympic soccer tournament in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The Women’s World Cup kicks off Friday, June 7, 2019, in Paris. Marta Vieira da Silva, known by just her first name, is a six-time FIFA World Player of the Year. The 33-year-old has the most World Cup goals among women with 15. (AP Photo/Leo Correa, File)

(FILES) In this file photo taken on December 8, 2018 England’s head coach Phil Neville poses as he arrives for the final draw of the 2019 FIFA Women World cup football tournament in Boulogne-Billancourt, near Paris. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Don’t forget us next year: women’s football’s plea after Hong Kong Lunar New Year Cup scrapped

China's Tang Jiali vies for the ball with Taiwan’s Chang Chi-lan during the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Football Championship. Photo: AFP

(L-R): Aspring footballer Annabel Yue and Betty Wong Yeuk-ling, the women's football manager of Hong Kong Football Association, at the Hong Kong Jockey Club HKFA Football Training Centre in Tseung Kwan O. 30SEP19 SCMP / David Wong

Sport

Hong Kong


The matches, which also act as AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2023 qualifiers, are set to be played in Nepal in September
Hosts’ place among Hong Kong government’s list of high-risk countries could prove problematic for preparations



The matches will be played in Nepal in September but hosts’ place among Hong Kong government’s list of high-risk countries could prove problematic for preparations.


Asian Football Confederation (AFC)