Philippines women make history with stunning World Cup win

But Bolden's history with the Philippines is unique. Before joining the national team, she had never actually been to the country. She was born in California and now plays her club soccer in Australia.

Instead, Bolden — and many of her teammates — are proud members of the global Filipino diaspora. They believe that their unique perspective elevates their national team by mixing the uniting element of Filipino culture with influences from all around the globe.

"It really didn't matter how long anyone's been on the team, or if we grew up in the States or Manila," midfielder Tahnai Annis told the Guardian of meeting her World Cup teammates. "We have some girls that grew up in Canada and Norway. We're everywhere.

"Then, when we're together, it's not about where we grew up or where we live. Everyone knows we share the same blood and we're family."

The result against New Zealand is the first World Cup victory for a 2023 tournament debutant. (Vietnam, Morocco, Haiti, Portugal, Panama, Ireland and Zambia are the other first-time entrants.) It's a fantastic sign that proves the talent gap is shrinking between traditional powerhouses and newcomers in women's soccer.

For the Philippines, it's a lifeline that could see the team set another "first" in a World Cup full of them: qualifying for the knockout rounds. If the Philippines can bring this positive momentum into their final game with Switzerland, it will be awfully hard to doubt them.