SAN ANTONIO – Trinity Tigers women's soccer first-year Malea Cesar (Portland, Ore. / Sunset) will be playing in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup with the Philippine Women's National Team.

The Philippine team of 23 female players will represent their country for the first time ever (men or women) at the World Cup. Cesar is also the first Tiger women's soccer player to be on a World Cup roster.

Cesar has been with the Phillippine Women's National Team since 2021 after attending tryouts in Southern California, and she has appeared in 32 games during her time with the National Team. She participated in the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup and scored her first international goal against Indonesia. The "Filipinas," as the team is known, qualified for the Women's World Cup during the 2022 Asian Football Confederation Women's Asian Cup. After advancing to the knockout stage for just the second time in their history at the event, the Philippines defeated Chinese Taipei in a penalty shootout to secure a spot in the World Cup. 

"Malea making the final roster and the Women's World Cup is amazing, but our real pride is in the sacrifices and commitment she has made to get there," said Trinity Women's Soccer Head Coach Dylan Harrison. "Once you hear her story and what it took to get there, you can't help but be in awe of what she has accomplished. Malea fully went for it to earn this opportunity, and has created history in doing so. Malea, her family, and her teammates will cherish and share this memory forever!" 

The Philippine WNT is one of 32 teams competing at this year's FIFA World Cup and is in Group A along with Switzerland, Norway, and co-host New Zealand. The Filipinas begin their first World Cup action against Switzerland at 5 p.m. local time on Friday, July 21, in Dunedin, New Zealand, which will be midnight (CT). The second match for the Philippines will be Tuesday, July 25, at 12:30 a.m. (CT) against New Zealand in Wellington. The final match of the group stage for Cesar and her teammates will be Sunday, July 30, at 2 a.m. (CT) against Norway in Auckland.

Trinity women's soccer has won 25 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships and has made 27 appearances in the NCAA III Playoffs since the 1992-93 school year. Coach Harrison will begin his eighth year as the Trinity Women's Soccer Head Coach in 2023-24. He has amassed a record of 122-13-6 over his first seven seasons, capturing seven SCAC Championships and making seven appearances in the NCAA Tournament – including three straight trips to the Round of 16 from 2019-22.