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[VIDEOS/PCTURES] Why isn't Pakistan better at football?

QUETTA: Six local footballers were abducted from the Jani Bair area of the Dera Bugti district in Balochistan on Saturday, according to local district administration.

Local law enforcement agencies have begun search for the missing athletes with blockades in place to cordon off the area.

“The players were residents of Dera Bugti and Sui. They were going to Sibi to take part in the qualifying round of the All Pakistan Chief Minister Gold Cup football tournament,” Dera Bugti’s deputy commissioner confirmed.

Meanwhile, Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti said that the athletes were kidnapped by terrorists.

“An operation is being planned to recover the players. Teams of Frontier Corps, deputy commissioner, commissioner and Levies Force were working to trace the suspects,” said Bugti.

Overall, cricket might be the most popular sport in Pakistan but the same can’t be said for its largest province, Balochistan, since football here is a tool that promotes social cohesion among communities and helps them escape the harsh realities of life.

However, despite the ever-growing interest in football in Balochistan, only a few are lucky enough to pursue the game professionally due to lack of a proper system and employment opportunities.

The departmental structure in Pakistan usually shows little interest in the development of players, promotion of the sport and working at the grassroots level since it is already funded by the government. This add to misery of places like Balochistan which is in dire need of investment on sports and especially football.

Mismanagement and rift between players and officials has always been an Achilles heel for Pakistan football over the past few years and the same is the case with Balochistan.

With Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) suffering from administrative infighting and bans by FIFA in the recent past, little or no attention was given to issues in Balochistan.

Geo news
 
It is very unfortunate. I pray that this footballer returns safely and those who have kidnapped him are caught and given a severe punishment.
 
The abduction of local footballers is a grave security concern, and it's essential for law enforcement agencies to take immediate and effective action to ensure their safe return. The involvement of terrorists adds an even more alarming dimension to the incident.
 
FULL TIME: Pakistan u23 1-2 Palestine u23 in AFC U23 Qualifiers. Pakistan lost all of the three games they played in these qualifiers and finish at the bottom of their group with 0 points.
 
Lack of facilities and exposure i must say else we have such great talent here in Karachi who are getting spoiled.
 
Jirga being formed in Dera Bugti for footballers’ release.

Security forces have failed to trace the whereabouts of young players, despite passage of one week since the launch of an operation to find the kidnapped footballers in the Kachhi canal area of Sui tehsil.

While officials in Dera Bugti said search operation was still on amid hopes that young football players would be recovered, the local administration decided to constitute a tribal jirga comprising elders of different Bugti clans to contact the kidnappers and get the players released.

Earlier, the families of abducted young footballers and others took out a protest rally in Dera Bugti against the abduction.

The protesting families demanded that Nawabzada Shahzain Bugti and Gohram Bugti come forward and play their role for early, safe recovery of six football players.


DAWN
 
Pakistan football is in a mess as FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier looms.

After the FIFA ban was lifted last year, football players and fans in Pakistan hoped that the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Normalisation Committee (NC) would make positive changes for the growth of the game in Pakistan but, instead, things have taken a turn for the worse.

The current PFF NC tried to paper over the cracks with cosmetic changes but it obviously failed to realise that a new coat of paint over rotten wood never works.

With the FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026 Qualifier against Cambodia scheduled to take place next month, on October 12 and 17, the players and support staff have not been paid for the past four months.

The players who featured in the four-nation cup in Mauritius in June, followed by the SAFF Championship in India and the recent AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Bahrain are yet to be paid with their dues amounting to approximately Rs1 million each.

When the players asked PFF to clear their payments, they were told that it would be done by mid-July. When the first deadline passed, the players were informed that that the payments have been delayed till mid-August. However, the dues were not cleared even after more than a month has passed since the August deadline.

The players were not even reimbursed for travelling to different cities of Pakistan for camps. There also came a time when some of the players had to chip in to pay for their teammates’ travelling expenses in order to ensure that all of them were able to attend the camps.

“Whenever we approached the PFF about releasing payments, we were told that there was a funding issue. We were also told that the payments for Mauritius and India tour will be done by September 15 but that was also not the case,” a source familiar with the situation told GeoSuper.tv on condition of anonymity.

“Recently, when the team went for AFC U23 Qualifiers to Bahrain, no meal was offered to the players at the airport since the officials told them that there was a funding issue due to audit of PFF accounts.

“Despite all the issues, the players were asked to cooperate by the PFF but for how long could they have done that?

“I know that FIFA did send PFF funds recently but the players and officials were still not paid. I spoke to some of the permanent employees of PFF, who said that their salaries were released in August so it was certain that the national squad will be paid as well. But when I asked the finance department, they said an audit has stated.

“I also don’t know if the women’s team was paid for their Singapore trip or not. The U16 team has also not been paid till now.”

It has also been learned that the squad was also not offered contracts for AFC U23 Qualifiers despite getting them in previous events. So, technically they only have agreements in writing for Mauritius and India tour if they go on to file a case with FIFA regarding delay in salaries.

Some of the diaspora players within the team also pushed the PFF to clear their dues but they were still left empty handed.

It must be noted that the delay in salaries has been a recurring issue ever since the PFF NC took charge since the dues for tournaments/matches before Mauritius were also not cleared on time.


www.geosuper.tv

Pakistan football is in a mess as FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier looms

Players have been mistreated and are not paid
www.geosuper.tv www.geosuper.tv
 
no surprise that why Pakistan's football situation is in such a state of trouble, with corruption and incompetence prevailing at every level.

I don't see us emerging as a strong football playing nation anytime soon, lot of things need to be changed!
 
Pakistan u19 qualified for the semi-finals of the SAFF U19 Championship after drawing 1-1 against Maldives in the final group game. They will face either India or Bhutan in the semifinal on 27th September.
 
I used to be a big football fan once and my conclusion was that it's just not in our genes.

In the UK, you have millions of people who are from Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi descent. They have all the facilities and resources in the world to become great footballers.

However, how many are playing in the Premier League let alone playing for the England national team?? A big 0

And if there was discrimination In football, then how come the PM of UK is ethnically Indian? The Mayor of London is ethnically Pakistani? The First Minister of Scotland is ethnically Pakistani? There are many self made billionaires as well who are ethnically South Asian.

Sirf football mai hi discrimination honi hai? Amir Khan was once the biggest boxer in the UK

NOTHING JUSTIFIES OUR RANKING OF 200. NO MATTER HOW CORRUPT OUR FOOTBALL FEDERATION IS
 
Football is also very popular in Pakistan. We often see children, teenagers, and even older individuals playing the sport, displaying a lot of talent. I live in Tehsil Kahuta, District Rawalpindi, where we don't have a cricket ground. Despite this, about 100-120 people, in a city with a population of 7-8 lakhs, actively play football. Some of them have even represented Pakistan recently, like Sahil Khan, the goalkeeper for Pakistan's street children's football team.

The main issue we face in the sport is a lack of funding and proper talent scouting. We need to plan for how we can compete in world cups and other major events. One significant problem is the existence of two football federations that have been involved in extensive conflicts. Unfortunately, it seems that not many people prioritize the game and the players; instead, most are focused on obtaining positions."
 
Pakistan U19 will face Bhutan U19 in the semifinal of the SAFF U-19 Championship on Wednesday.
 
Pakistan U19 team head coach Shadab Iftikhar and captain Muhammad Sadam pose with SAFFU19 Championship trophy with their Indian counterparts. Both teams will meet in the FINAL tomorrow.

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hassan918 said:
Pakistan U19 team head coach Shadab Iftikhar and captain Muhammad Sadam pose with SAFFU19 Championship trophy with their Indian counterparts. Both teams will meet in the FINAL tomorrow.

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I desperately want to cheer but the level of games is horrible. Asian games was embarrassing
 
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Pakistan is not doing good in football just because of the lack of exposure and facilities else pakistan has brilliant talent.
 
Four out of six abducted footballers recovered in Baluchistan

On September 9, six footballers were abducted from the Jani Bair area of the Dera Bugti district in Baluchistan and after almost 22 days of uncertainty and hopelessness, four of them have been successfully recovered by the government of the province with the help of law enforcement agencies.

Four footballers have been reunited with their families, confirmed Additional Chief Secretary Saleh Nasir.

The concerned authorities are now doing their best to recover the remaining two as well.

Earlier, as soon as the news of the footballer being abducted emerged, local law enforcement agencies began to search for the missing athletes with blockades in place to cordon off the area.

“The players were residents of Dera Bugti and Sui. They were going to Sibi to take part in the qualifying round of the All Pakistan Chief Minister Gold Cup football tournament,” Dera Bugti’s deputy commissioner confirmed.

Meanwhile, Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti also opened up on the incident saying that the athletes were kidnapped by terrorists.

“An operation is being planned to recover the players. Teams of Frontier Corps, deputy commissioner, commissioner and Levies Force were working to trace the suspects,” said Bugti.

Overall, cricket might be the most popular sport in Pakistan but the same can’t be said for its largest province, Baluchistan, since football here is a tool that promotes social cohesion among communities and helps them escape the harsh realities of life.

However, despite the ever-growing interest in football in Baluchistan, only a few are lucky enough to pursue the game professionally due to lack of a proper system and employment opportunities.

The departmental structure in Pakistan usually shows little interest in the development of players, promotion of the sport and working at the grassroots level since it is already funded by the government. This add to misery of places like Baluchistan which is in dire need of investment on sports and especially football.

Mismanagement and rift between players and officials has always been an Achilles heel for Pakistan football over the past few years and the same is the case with Baluchistan.

With Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) suffering from administrative infighting and bans by FIFA in the recent past, little or no attention was given to issues in Baluchistan.

GEO​
 
PFF has announced Stephen Constantine as the new National Team Manager. Former team India manager will joins team Pakistan with less than 2 weeks till Cambodia clash in FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier.
 
Pakistan vs Cambodia second leg if FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers will be played at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad on 17th October at 2pm. This will be the first international football game Pakistan is hosting in 8 years, first competitive fixture in 12 years. The first leg will be played in Cambodia on 12th October.

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Lack of resources ofcourse else we have a lot of talent who is getting wasted here in pakistan.
 
hassan918 said:
PFF has announced Stephen Constantine as the new National Team Manager. Former team India manager will joins team Pakistan with less than 2 weeks till Cambodia clash in FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier.
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I read a report that Stephen was very very disappointed at the state of the facilities in Pakistan.
 
It finished 0-0 between Cambodia and Pakistan in the 1st leg of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers Round One in Phnom Penh. Defensive performance across the 90 with the 2nd leg in Islamabad coming up on the 17th October.

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Grimsby Town’s Otis Khan was prevented from playing for Pakistan in the first leg of their World Cup qualifier against Cambodia by Fifa after it ruled, he wasn’t eligible despite having a Pakistani passport.

Khan, who is from Ashton-under-Lyne and began his career at Sheffield United after being in Manchester United’s academy, made his debut for Pakistan against Mauritius in June in a friendly.

He qualified through his paternal grandfather, Kanwar Jamil Mohammed Khan, who was born in Delhi but moved to Pakistan after the partition in 1947 before settling in Manchester.

Khan, a winger who joined Grimsby last year from Leyton Orient, has six caps and had been expecting to be part of the manager Stephen Constantine’s team that faced Cambodia on Thursday. However, it is understood that despite conducting an interview with Fifa’s website to preview the match he was informed this week that he had been ruled ineligible.

The Pakistan Football Federation said in a statement that Fifa’s decision remains pending and said it was hopeful of a positive resolution.

The issue revolves around a specific requirement that one of Otis’ grandparents must have been born in Pakistan, the statement said. In his case, his grandfather was born in Delhi, British India, prior to the partition and subsequently migrated to Pakistan, like millions of others. Fifa has neither confirmed his ineligibility nor definitively declared him eligible, and their decision remains pending.

We want to emphasise that we are actively collaborating with Fifa to address this matter comprehensively. Otis is not only a vital member of our team but has already represented Pakistan with distinction. Our ongoing discussions with Fifa aim to resolve this issue and provide a resolution that recognises his eligibility.

Khan later released a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, that urged Fifa to reconsider. Angry, disappointed, let down, gutted. I don’t know what to say, he wrote. Fifa please deal with this urgently as I’m sat in hotel waiting for you to do your admin.

According to the Pakistan government, any persons who migrated to Pakistan from the territories in the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent before the commencement of Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951 are declared citizens of Pakistan. Fifa has been contacted for comment.

Pakistan’s 0-0 draw against Cambodia ended a 12-match losing streak. They will play their first competitive fixture in Pakistan since 2011 in the second leg in Islamabad on Tuesday due to a series of crises at the PFF and political unrest in the country.

Source: Guardian
 
Great number of fans came to watch football match between Pakistan and Cambodia in Jinnah stadium Islamabad.

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The history has been created

Pakistan defeat Cambodia 1-0 to win the first-ever FIFA World Cup qualifier match

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great stuff, hopefully the chance to play against teams like saudi will entice more expats to consider playing for pakistan.
 
Stephen Constantine isn't sure whether he will stay with the Pakistan National Team once his short 4 week contract is over. This is what he had to say after 1-0 win against Cambodia.

“I was on a short contract with the PFF NC and now it is up to them to decide my future association with the national team. I am glad that I have achieved my target,”

I hope PFF offers him at least a year long contract because he deserves this and it is very likely that our team will make a significant improvement with him as a coach.
 

FIFA house gets vacated amid lease feud​


Fédération Internationale Football Association (FIFA) House, the long-standing administrative hub of Pakistan's football operations -- situated in Lahore -- has been vacated on Tuesday amid an ongoing lease dispute.

As per details, the Punjab Revenue Department has assumed control of the premises, leaving the footballing community in a state of flux.

The issue revolves around a lease dispute between the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and the Board of Revenue.

Under the previous administration, the situation had deteriorated, and with 11 years remaining on the lease, it has culminated in the building being evacuated.

Notably, the Normalization Committee, tasked with overseeing football operations in Pakistan, had established its offices at FIFA Football House. Additionally, a hostel for players had been set up within the same premises, providing accommodation for the country's football talent.

The lease predicament has cast a shadow over the Football Federation, with no immediate resolution in sight.

The PFF, currently engrossed in the World Cup Qualifying Round match, is expected to address the matter once the ongoing sporting commitments are concluded.

Source: SAMMA
 
Arafat Minhas. That said, the dearth of talent in domestics and atrocious senior team is perfect time for Pakistan to pivot into Football.
 
Otis Khan while talking to BBC shared update on his eligibility to play for Pakistan: "The conversation has been positive. Things are looking well at the moment. I've got a Pakistani passport and an identity card. FIFA need to get a few more letters and documents from the Pakistani government, and I'm sure it'll be resolved."
 
Saudi Arabia vs Pakistan game on 16 Nov will be played at the Ettifaq Stadium in Dammam.

ettifaq.jpeg
 
Pakistan moved up to 193 in the FIFA ranking, a rise of 4 places after a draw and a win against Cambodia in the pre-qualifiers of FIFA World Cup 2026.

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Pakistan team captain Easah Suliman will be out for two months after suffering a medial meniscus tear while playing for his club Sumqayit FC.

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Two footballers, who were abducted at the start of September in Balochistan’s Dera Bugti, have been recovered after more than a month, provincial authorities said on Sunday.

Last month, six footballers were kidnapped by unknown armed men in the Kachhi canal area of Sui Tehsil of Dera Bugti district while they were en route Sibi to participate in the qualifying round of the All Pakistan Chief Minister Gold Cup Football tournament.

They were travelling with other members of the Dera Bugti district football team when they were kidnapped by armed men in the Jani Pedi area of Sui Tehsil.


www.dawn.com

2 footballers abducted in Balochistan’s Dera Bugti recovered after over a month: official

Sibi Division commissioner says footballers handed over to relatives, further investigation under way.
www.dawn.com
 
Bazid Khan shared an important reason why we are so much behind in Football.

 
This is the stadium where Pakistan will play against Saudi Arabia on 16th November in FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying round.

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Good News for Pakistan Football as Otis Khan has been CLEARED by FIFA to play for Pakistan in World Cup Qualifiers Round Two.

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hassan918 said:
This is the stadium where Pakistan will play against Saudi Arabia on 16th November in FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying round.

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Saudi Arabian Football Federation has now tweeted a different stadium. The match will not take place at Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium but at AL-Fateh SC's new stadium.
 
Pakistan football team have landed in Saudi Arabia to play against the them on in 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

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Pakistan will play against Saudia Arabia on 16 November in Abdullah Al Dabil Stadium in the second round of Fifa World Cup Qualifiers.
 

‘We will fight’: Stephen Constantine on making history with Pakistan​


Islamabad, Pakistan – On the morning of October 17, Stephen Constantine, the head coach of the Pakistan men’s football team, discovered that the squad had bought him a cake for his 61st birthday.

Constantine, a strict disciplinarian, did not mince words: if the squad wanted to wish him a happy birthday, they should get him a victory over Cambodia in the second leg of their Asian first-round 2026 World Cup qualifier, to be played in Islamabad’s Jinnah Sports Stadium later that day.

And he added: there should be no cake on his face.

“Well, they ended up making history. Got me the win and went on to smash two cakes in my face,” Constantine laughingly recalled to Al Jazeera in an exclusive interview.

The 1-0 victory was Pakistan’s first win in three decades of World Cup qualifiers; a monumental achievement for the team and Constantine himself, who had taken over as coach only days before their first leg in Cambodia.

Pakistan’s reward was a place in the second qualification round, in a group including Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Jordan.

Pakistan’s opener is a trip to play Saudi Arabia in the eastern city of Al Hofuf on Thursday.

“I can only speak for myself, and for however long I am here, but the days of Pakistan rolling over for any opposition are gone,” the bald, bespectacled coach said with a steely resolve. “If you want to beat us, you will have to earn that. We are not going to lay down easily.”

Constantine recognises the challenges faced by Pakistan, 193rd in FIFA’s rankings, in their match against Saudi Arabia, who last year shocked eventual winners Argentina 2-1 during their group stage match in the World Cup in Qatar.

The Green Falcons are currently ranked 57th in the world and are coached by legendary Italian manager Roberto Mancini.

www.aljazeera.com

‘We will fight’: Stephen Constantine on making history with Pakistan

The well-travelled English coach talks to Al Jazeera about taking on one of the toughest jobs in international football.
www.aljazeera.com www.aljazeera.com
 
Pakistan head coach Stephen Constantine and Saudi Arabia head coach Roberto Mancini both spoke at the pre-match conference in Al-Ahsa ahead of their clash for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Round Two.

Constantine pulled no punches when asked about Pakistan, "We are facing an experienced team, and the difference between us and the Saudis is large. We seek to leave a positive impact in the qualifiers."

Mancini, facing a selection dilemma due to injuries to some key players like star Salem al-Dawsari, aimed for the win. "Our goal is to give 100% effort in all matches, but now we must put all our focus on facing Pakistan. We seek to perform well and earn full points."

Saudi Arabia vs Pakistan, 16 November at the Al-Fateh Stadium in Al-Ahsa, kickoff 9:30pm PST.

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Pakistan football: The British players starring on the world stage

Even the biggest British football fans can probably be forgiven for not knowing the name Harun Hamid.

The 19-year-old was released by second-tier side QPR at the end of last season and currently doesn't play for a professional side.

But just last month Harun's name was on the lips of millions of people in Pakistan when he scored the biggest goal in their World Cup qualifying history.

His goal saw the country beat Cambodia 1-0 for their first win in five years - putting them through to the second round of qualifying for football's biggest tournament for the first time.

"I was just filled with adrenaline and had to hit the knee slide in front of the fans," London-born midfielder Harun tells BBC Asian Network.

Pakistan's reward for the win is their highest profile game to date, a match against Saudi Arabia - the only team to beat World Cup winners Argentina at last winter's tournament - at 16:30 GMT on Thursday.

"We're playing against the team that beat Messi's Argentina and we don't even have a pro league," Harun says.

Pakistan has the 5th largest population in the world with around 240 million people, but its football team is ranked a lowly 193rd - one place below the island of Aruba and two above the Seychelles.

The fact that it doesn't have its own professional league, as Harun says, is one of the key reasons that British Pakistani players like him are being called up to play for the national team under dual nationality rules.

"Growing up I didn't even know Pakistan had a team if I'm honest, so I never thought I'd be playing for them one day," he says.

"But the opportunity came and to play on the world stage in front of huge crowds is a dream come true.

"Hopefully after the win, more young boys like me will consider playing for Pakistan."

'This is just the start'

Harun isn't the only British Pakistani player in the squad, there's also former England under-19 captain Easah Suliman and Otis Khan who plays for Grimsby in League Two.

Another player hoping to be involved in the game against Saudi Arabia is 21-year-old Imran Kayani, who's joining the Pakistan squad for the first time.

He grew up in Woking and plays for non-league side Whitehawk FC in Brighton.

"When the opportunity came, it was an absolute no-brainer," he says.

"I'm just so excited to get going."

The win against Cambodia was a much needed boost for football in Pakistan, after a difficult period which meant they didn't play a home match for eight years.

National football in the country has also been suspended twice by Fifa in the last four years for "undue influence from third parties".

But Imran is confident that British Pakistani players like him can make a difference to their fortunes.

"A lot more light has been shone on Pakistan football in the last month," he says.

"There's a lot of British Asian talent in the UK, in the academies. We really want to push Pakistan in a good direction."
​
SOURCE: BBC
 
Saudi Arabia won the game 4-0 over Pakistan in the Asian World Cup 2026 Qualifiers.

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Cricket Warrior said:
Saudi Arabia won the game 4-0 over Pakistan in the Asian World Cup 2026 Qualifiers.
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It was 2-0 at the end of 90 minutes. Two goals in the stoppage time could be avoided. Overall, it was a very good fight put on by team Pakistan. Looking forward seeing them play against Tajikistan in Islamabad on 21st November.
 
The contest in Al Hasa has concluded, and Saudi Arabia secured a commanding 4-0 victory in the Football World Cup Qualifier against Pakistan.

Saleh Al-Shehri shone for the hosts, scoring two goals, while Abdulrahman Ghareeb contributed the third goal, and Abdullah Radif sealed the scoreline.

Despite displaying sporadic threats, Pakistan found themselves outplayed for the majority of the match.

Nevertheless, the Green Falcons can take pride in noticeable improvements in their performance.

Looking ahead, Pakistan is scheduled to host Tajikistan in their next fixture, while Saudi Arabia will travel to face Jordan. Both matches are set for Tuesday, November 21.

Pakistan has advanced to the second round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifier AFC for the first time in history.

Stephen Constantine, the foreign coach of the national team, expressed confidence in the players’ ability to deliver a strong performance.
 
mazkhan said:
Was this the best saudi side we played or a b team ?
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A couple of key players were injured so they couldn't be a part of this team. Otherwise, it was their first team. Many of the players were part of the side that played in the 2022 World Cup.
 
Pakistan is set to face Tajikistan is set to face Pakistan in the 2nd match of the 2nd round of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The match will be played today at 2 PM at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad.
 
Pakistan's Football team lost 2nd qualifier as well and their chances to qualify are next to none now.

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Pakistan vs Tajikistan FIFA World Cup Qualifiers:

An unexpected 6-1 loss for Pakistan at home against Tajikistan after a fighting 0-4 loss to Saudi Arabia in Riyadh. Pakistan continues to remain at the bottom of Group G with back-to-back defeats. Tajikistan, meanwhile, go top of the table with Saudi Arabia facing Jordan later in the evening. Pakistan will play Jordan next in March with four more games left to play in the second round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.​
 
Pakistan aims to revitalize football after first-ever collaboration with Saudi Arabia

Pakistan is looking to reshape the future of football in the country after reaching out to Saudi Arabia for first-ever international collaboration in the field, the top official of the FIFA-backed Normalization Committee (NC) currently running the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), said in a recent interview.

Last week, the PFF announced its chairman, Haroon Malik, had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) in Riyadh to foster strong ties for the mutual benefit, promotion, growth and success of the sport in both countries.

Pakistan has faced many challenges in international football over the years, including multiple suspensions of the country’s domestic premier division in the last six years. The last one was in April 2021, when FIFA banned PFF due to “third-party interference” after a “hostile takeover” of the body’s headquarters in Lahore and the ousting of a FIFA representative by a rival group.

The international sports governing body restored PFF’s membership in June 2022.

“I think the benefit [of signing the MoU] is that SAFF considers Pakistan to be a brotherly country and they want to develop football across Asia and they are making sure that it helps to raise the standard,” Malik told Arab News on Friday.

The PFF official said the federation was working on next year’s calendar, which will include friendly matches with Saudi Arabia.

“We are very happy that it covers not only the men’s national team but it also applies to the women’s national team,” he added. “On the youth side, we hope that we will play some games, under 16, under 19.”

Football recently came into the spotlight in the cricket-dominated country after Pakistan got its first-ever qualification for the second round of FIFA qualifiers, edging out Cambodia after ending a 13-match losing streak that dated back to 2018.

The faceoff was attended by over 13,000 fans in Islamabad as the country hosted its first international match after eight years, sparking jubilant celebrations not just for the victory but a homecoming of international football too.

The 193rd-ranked Pakistan, however, has suffered two consecutive setbacks in the first two matches of the second round and is currently the lowest-ranked team in Group G, which includes Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Jordan.

‘Neutral venue’

Pakistan is scheduled to play its home matches of the FIFA qualifiers against Jordan and Saudi Arabia on March 21 and June 6, respectively, though the football federation appears to be facing challenges in hosting night matches against the two teams.

Asked about the situation, Malik said he was hopeful the PFF would be able to get floodlights installed under FIFA regulations by January.

“The [Pakistan vs Jordan] game on the 21st of March, I do not think can be played during the day,” he said, adding that his team was working with the government for requisite lighting to ensure they were in place for both matches.

“If not, we will have to consider a neutral venue,” he added.

In a major boost for the sport, he said the PFF had been working on formalizing domestic football, promoting talent development through encouraging commercialization.

“If there is not enough commercial opportunity, the people, of course, will not choose [football] as a career option,” he maintained.

“We have All Pakistan Championship that is currently going on to find the best clubs that play in the country,” he said. “The second is to have a championship-style competition, something like the Pakistan Cricket League [Pakistan Super League].”

Discussing the national women’s team, the PFF chief said the federation was planning a football championship to establish a women’s league, to enable female footballers to display their talent and playing style.

The PFF, he noted, is also arranging visits from international teams to Pakistan, ensuring fans can enjoy high-quality matches.



www.arabnews.com

Pakistan aims to revitalize football after first-ever collaboration with Saudi Arabia

LAHORE: Pakistan is looking to reshape the future of football in the country after reaching out to Saudi Arabia for first-ever international collaboration in the field, the top official of the FIFA-backed Normalization Committee (NC) currently running the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), said...
www.arabnews.com www.arabnews.com
 
A top footballer told a local Pakistan media on condition of anonymity on Thursday:

"Our basic demand from FIFA and AFC is to revive our domestic football events including the Premier League and second-tier league."

"The Premier League was our major income source and its absence has inflicted a huge financial damage on us. We are unable to look after our families especially in this age of high inflation. FIFA should help revive our Premier League and the second-tier league so that footballers could look after their families properly."

"In the Premier League season a mainstream footballer could easily earn around Rs2 million which could help them look after their families. Now as there is no domestic football we have been compelled to do odd jobs to earn our livelihood."

“I am surprised why these two domestic events are being ignored. Because of this activity drought so many departments have folded their football teams. Despite the restoration of the departmental sports by the previous Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, departments are not ready to revive their football teams because there have been no domestic activities for the last so many years."
 

Pakistanis unlikely to witness FIFA World Cup qualifier at home​

KARACHI: Football enthusiasts in Pakistan may miss the opportunity to witness Pakistan's FIFA World Cup qualifier against Jordan on home turf, as the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has confirmed that Islamabad's Jinnah Stadium falls short of the global governing body's standards.

In a statement released on Monday, the PFF conveyed that it is actively exploring alternative venues to ensure the game takes place at a neutral location.

"In collaboration with the Pakistan Sports Board, the Pakistan Football Federation has been dedicatedly working on preparing Jinnah Stadium for the upcoming March match against Jordan," PFF stated.

"Regrettably, despite our best efforts, the current standard of Jinnah Stadium does not meet FIFA requirements," it added.

The PFF highlighted a significant challenge related to lighting conditions, stating, "As the March game is scheduled to be held under lights and coincides with Ramazan, meeting FIFA’s lighting standards with the current setup has posed difficulties."

Citing the January 21 deadline for venue submission and a commitment to upholding the game's integrity, the PFF affirmed its decision to explore alternative options. "We will be in contact with the Jordan Football Association to discuss arrangements for a neutral venue for the home leg," the statement added.

Jinnah Stadium previously hosted Pakistan's home game in the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Tajikistan in November, drawing a crowd of 24,000 spectators cheering for the national team.

While Pakistan's next home match against Jordan is scheduled for March 21, this recent development has left football fans in Pakistan disappointed.

Source: GEO
 
This is totally unacceptable. Your team qualified to play in the World Cup Qualifiers Group Stage for the first time and this is how you are responding. I wonder where all the grant from FIFA and AFC is going 🤔
 
Hope is alive to witness the FIFA World Cup qualifier at home.

----------------------------------------

‘World Cup qualifier against Jordan could still be held in Islamabad’

KARACHI: After creating a storm on social media on Monday morning, the Pakistan Football Federation Normalisation Committee hinted at a u-turn.

Having earlier said it was exploring a neutral venue, the PFF NC said on Monday evening that Pakistan’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Jordan on March 21 could yet be played at Islamabad’s Jinnah Stadium, whose readiness for the game it had put in question.

“The match can still be played in Islamabad,” a PFF NC spokesperson told Dawn.

The drama began when in a thread on X, formerly Twitter, the PFF NC had said that it had been working with the Pakistan Sports Board on preparing the Jinnah Stadium for the Group ‘G’ game against Jordan but the venue fell short of meeting FIFA’s standards.

It added that the Jinnah Stadium, which had hosted the second leg of the first-round qualifying tie against Cambodia as well the Group ‘G’ game against Tajikistan, does not have the floodlight system to hold the game against Jordan, which would be played in the night as it falls during the month of Ramadan.

“One significant challenge we are facing is related to the lighting conditions,” it said. “As the March game is scheduled to be held under lights, and considering it falls during Ramazan, we have encountered difficulties in meeting FIFA’s lighting standards with the current setup.

“The deadline for venue submission was January 21 and as we are committed to upholding the integrity of the game, we’ve decided to explore alternative options. We will be in contact with the Jordan Football Association to discuss the arrangement of a neutral venue for the home leg.”

The PFF NC shared videos of the venue, showing the running track alongside the pitch but it soon faced tremendous backlash.

PSB director-general Shoaib Khosa shared a letter on X, dated Jan 19, in which the country’s sports regulatory body had assured the PFF that the stadium would be ready for the game.

“The matter was consulted with the P&D wing of the PSB and it is hereby confirmed that the Jinnah Stadium will be ready to host the World Cup qualifier,” said the letter. “The lights and seats will be installed well before the match as per required standards.”

The PSB DG told Dawn on Monday evening that “the assurances had been sent to the PFF NC”. “We are sure that we will complete the work that needs to be done in time for the game,” he added.

The PFF NC spokesperson, meanwhile, said there wasn’t a deadline of Jan 21 set by FIFA or the Asian Football Federation, but “according to the rules, we have to intimate them about the prospective venue two months before the game”.

“We only saw the letter had been sent to us after seeing it on social media,” added the spokesperson.

FIFA or the AFC did not immediately respond to a query by Dawn regarding the Jan 21 deadline.

The PFF NC’s relationship with the government has blown hot and cold and on Monday it emerged that Fawad Hasan Fawad, the minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination, had written to FIFA earlier this month, asking the global football body to push the Haroon Malik-led committee into holding the elections of the PFF at the earliest.

“I have written to FIFA […] we want the election process to begin as soon as possible,” the IPC minister told Dawn on Monday.
​
SOURCE: DAWN
 
Hartlepool United are delighted to announce Otis Khan has signed on loan from Grimsby Town until the end of the season.

The exciting attacker, who represents Pakistan internationally, came through the youth set-up at Manchester United before moving onto Sheffield United and playing in League One as a youngster.

The 28-year-old holds vast experience in the Football League with over 200 appearances across League One and Two. He's played for the likes of Yeovil, Mansfield and Leyton Orient, and also reached the EFL Trophy Final with Tranmere Rovers in 2021.

Last season, Khan made 39 appearances for Grimsby as they finished 11th in League Two, as well as playing in the World Cup qualifiers for Pakistan.

Khan will wear the number 40 shirt at the Suit Direct Stadium and be eligible to play in Saturday’s home fixture against York City.

Upon joining Pools, Khan stated:

"It's a massive opportunity and I can't wait to get going. The gaffer wants me to make an impact to the team and with the way he's looking to play, it suits me massively. There'll be a big crowd at the game on Saturday and York are a decent side so I'm looking forward to it."

Hartlepool United Head Coach, Kevin Phillips, added:

"I'm delighted to bring Otis to the Club. We've identified the areas that we need strengthening in, and with backing from the Chairman, we've been able to do that. Otis is technically a very good player - he looks after the ball and can split defences. He'll add some great quality to the team with his experience and attitude, and we're looking forward to wor
king with him."

Source: Hartlepool United

www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk

Otis Khan signs on loan

Hartlepool United are delighted to announce Otis Khan has signed on loan from Grimsby Town until the end of the season.
www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk
 
Better at football, they need to get better at cricket first.

The entire set up and administration is flawed.

If they had professionals dealing with sport who would actually invest back in the talent there would be universal improvement
 
Cricket seems to get the most attention in Pakistan. So, other sports get neglected (including football).
 
Where are the Lyari wonder kids, had heard a lot of fanfare regarding them but still no glory to back that.
 
The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Normalisation Committee (NC) has not been able to confirm the dates of the national camp even though there are less than 15 days left for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Asian Cup finalists Jordan.

The tie is scheduled to take place at Islamabad’s Jinnah Stadium on March 21 and so far the PFF NC has confirmed that they would like to retain the services of the British coach Stephen Constantine while there will be overseas players joining the camp, especially confirming the participation of Easah Sulaiman, apart from others.

There was a meeting that took place virtually between the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and the PFF NC on Wednesday, and the latter feels that there were concerns left unresolved by the former.


tribune.com.pk

Can Pakistan prepare NT for World Cup qualifier in 2 weeks? | The Express Tribune

With just 14 days left to play the home leg against Jordan, the PFF NC has no confirmed date for the national camp
tribune.com.pk tribune.com.pk
 
The latest edition of South Asians in Football Weekly is out after another fine week for the community in the Beautiful Game.

Former England youth international Adil Nabi will feature for Pakistan in their matches against Jordan if international clearance is received in time, Sky Sports News understands.

The West Brom academy graduate has finally received a Pakistani passport and could play in this month's World Cup second-round qualifying double-header.

Former Dundee forward Nabi has been back among the goals, netting a late winner against Apollon Limassol and following that up with the opener in last weekend's defeat away at Karmiotissa.

If selected, Adil will be the only player in Pakistan's squad with experience of playing in India, following a stint at Delhi Dynamos in the Indian Super League (ISL) in 2015 after becoming the first Premier League player ever to make a loan move to the ISL.

Source: Sky Sports
 
Head Coach Stephen Constantine is back with the national team ahead of Pakistan's World Cup qualifying match against Jordan on March 21 in Islamabad.

cVZtgfe.png
 
Adil nabi has been cleared by FIFA to represent Pakistan Football national Team. He will be available to play all the upcoming matches of world cup qualifiers.

lWEYEbJ.png
 

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Pakistan coach Stephen Constantine provides update about diaspora players ahead of Jordan clash​

Pakistan coach Stephen Constantine provided an update about diaspora players joining the squad ahead of clash against Jordan this month during the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers.

Pakistan will face Jordan on March 21 at the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad.

“Four to five players are currently playing in foreign leagues and they will join the squad soon for Jordan clash,” Constantine said while speaking to media on Saturday in Lahore during the ongoing training camp of the Pakistan football team.

Constantine also stated that Pakistan has “no chance of qualifying” for the next FIFA World Cup.

“The players are working really hard but I’m not satisfied with team’s performance,” he added.

The 61-year-old also said that Pakistan desperately needs a “proper domestic league” in order to unearth new talent.

The preliminary squad has already been announced but the final squad, which will also include overseas players, will be announced later.

Captain Easah Suliman is also set to make a comeback in the squad after recovering from injury.

After the home clash on March 21, Pakistan will travel to Jordan for the away fixture on March 26 during the ongoing second round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers.

Pakistan are at the bottom of the points table in Group G after losing their first two matches against Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan.

Source: GEO
 
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