Pakistan Football Team set for Tajikistan clash in 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

 Pakistan Football Team set for Tajikistan clash in 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

By our correspondent 

LAHORE: The Pakistan men's football team has returned to Islamabad after their recent match against Saudi Arabia in Al-Hasa as part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Despite facing a 0-4 defeat against Saudi Arabia, the team is gearing up for their upcoming encounter with Tajikistan scheduled for November 21.

After departing from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, the team transited through Dubai Airport before landing at Islamabad International Airport. In the previous match against Saudi Arabia, Pakistan trailed 0-1 at half-time and conceded three more goals in the second half. The Saudi team, ranked 57th in FIFA World Rankings, dominated with 77% possession, highlighting their experience and strong league system, while Pakistan holds the 193rd rank.

In the absence of centre-back Easah Suliman, forward Otis Khan took on the captain's armband and led the team from the right wing. Khan, a forward for Grimsby Town, recently gained FIFA approval to represent Pakistan, providing evidence of his eligibility based on ancestry.

Looking ahead, Pakistan is set to host Tajikistan in their next match at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad, on November 21, 2023, at 2 PM (Pakistan time). This game marks the second match of the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers for Pakistan, and the team aims to put up a strong performance against Tajikistan.

Meanwhile, Pakistan football team’s head coach Stephen Constantine said that his team conceded goals at the wrong times, leading to them losing with a big margin of 4-0 against a dominant Saudi Arabia in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers.

Pakistan football team were thrashed by Saudi Arabia 4-0 during the first match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers, courtesy of Saleh Al-Shahri’s two goals in the early minutes of both halves.

“It was always going to be a difficult game for us. Considering where we were two months ago, we didn’t deserve to lose 4-0. We conceded at the start of both halves, which is probably the worst time to concede goals,” Constantine said during the post-match press conference.

“If you face a team as good as the Saudi team, you must always be focused. We have players whose primary sport is not football. Some of them do not remember the last time they played this game.

“Saudi Arabia is one of the best teams in Asia, so I asked the players to play without fear. Our chances are not easy, especially as we face strong teams, and we must prepare well for the Tajikistan match.”

This was the first time Pakistan played in the second round of FIFA World Cup qualifiers, after defeating Cambodia in the first round.

Pakistan last played against Saudi Arabia in 1978 at the latter’s home and suffered a 6-0 thrashing.

Besides Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, placed in Group G, will face Jordan and Tajikistan. Each team will take on the rest of the teams twice on the basis of home and away leg.

The top two teams from the qualifying round will progress to the third round, in which 18 teams will be divided into three groups.

Whereas, the bottom two sides will advance into the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers.

Pakistan’s next FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier is scheduled against Tajikistan in Islamabad on November 21.