UNCW Alumna Guillou's World Cup Travels Go Beyond the Pitch to Family Roots
Miles McQuiggan
DUNEDIN, New Zealand (July 12, 2023) – The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup will bring 32 nations together in Australia and New Zealand over the next month – the most teams to compete in the first iteration of the event played in multiple countries.
A first-time participant in the World Cup is a native of Maryland, born to French and Filipino parents, who played her high school soccer in Virginia. From there, she was an All-CAA honoree at UNCW, has played professionally in Finland, Switzerland, and Sweden, and now suits up for the Philippines – her mother’s home country – in the nation’s first appearance in the World Cup.
Katrina Guillou’s world travels – and some social media determination – have landed her in New Zealand for next Friday’s opener against Switzerland (1 a.m. ET, FS1).
“During my second year in Sweden, I was making a highlight video, posting it and sending it out,” said Guillou. “I remember sending it out on Twitter to the national team and saying ‘my mother is from the Philippines, she was born there, I’m part-Filipino; I think it would be great if I could be playing with you guys in the future.’”
Like everything in the sports world, the spring of 2020 and the CoVID pandemic put the brakes on Guillou’s national team goals.
“It worked out in my favor,” said Guillou. “I don’t typically have much down time, so when I am home from Europe, I just want to relax. It turned out I didn’t have to fly to the Philippines to get my paperwork. I got mine quickly, went out to camp, made the team, made my debut in India, and that’s how we qualified.”
Part of Guillou’s national team experience has included matches in Manila, opening the door for her extended family to see her play in-person, along with opening the door at their homes for Guillou to experience her family’s heritage.
“They loved it,” said Guillou. “They were able to fly into Manila; it’s a short flight. It was great to be able to fly out to their homes, see where they live, and to see where my grandparents grew up. I never thought I would be given that chance. Being part of this national team has given me a blessing that I never knew I wanted.”
Guillou, who played at UNCW from 2012-15 and was a three-time All-CAA selection, still keeps up from time to time on her alma mater, which will send a second alumna to the World Cup in Jamaican goalkeeper
Sydney Schneider, and the league, which will see Hofstra alumna
Diane Caldwell represent Ireland, in addition to other CAA players she has gotten to compete with and against in international play.
With the page turning to World Cup competition and the Philippines’ first appearance in the event, Guillou looks at it as an opportunity to grow the game in a nation of over 110 million people with a rich sports history.
“Representing the Philippines for women’s soccer has been a great opportunity,” said Guillou. “When you look at the nation’s history and the success of basketball, volleyball, and boxing, this is an opportunity for women’s soccer to get its foot in the door. Seeing how receptive people have been and the youth teams – both girls and boys – are just as excited, seeing ‘that can be me someday.’”
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