Pakistan is set to compete against Saudi Arabia in the first World Cup qualifier today.
Today, Pakistan embarks on a significant moment in its football history as they commence their journey in the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
In a historic event, Pakistan is set to face Saudi Arabia, their first Group G opponent in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, at the Al-Fateh Stadium. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 pm local time. Notably, the last encounter between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia dates back to 1978, where Pakistan suffered a 6-0 defeat on Saudi soil.
Group G also includes Jordan and Tajikistan. The teams will engage in a home-and-away series, with the top two advancing to the third round, while the bottom two move on to the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers. Saudi Arabia, being the host country for the 2027 Asian Cup, has already secured qualification for the major continental event.
Pakistan's team arrived on November 11, conducting six training sessions at the Al-Fateh Stadium's reserve venue. Overseas players, including England-based winger Imran Kayani, joined the team, with Kayani potentially making his international debut in the upcoming match.
Stephen Constantine, the English coach leading the team, anticipates a challenging game against Saudi Arabia and highlighted the limited preparation time. He acknowledged the absence of defender Easah Suliman due to injury but did not disclose the new captain. Constantine views this opportunity as crucial for Pakistani players to attract attention from foreign scouts.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia faced a setback as winger Salem Al-Dawsari was ruled out due to an ankle injury. Coach Roberto Mancini emphasized the importance of giving young players a chance, aiming to showcase good football in the qualifiers.
The second round matches will unfold in three phases, with the second and third phases scheduled for March and June. Mancini expressed readiness for the official Qualifiers, emphasizing the challenges of the first game. Despite his team's recent losses, Mancini assured that Saudi Arabia would not underestimate Pakistan.
The Pakistani squad includes goalkeepers Yousuf Butt, Salman-Ul-Haq, Hassan Ali; defenders Abdullah Iqbal, Haseeb Khan, Mamoon Moosa Khan, Mohibullah, Muhammad Sohail, Muhammad Saddam, Junaid Shah, Rao Umar Hayat, Muhammad Hamza Munir; midfielders Rahis Nabi, Alamgir Ghazi, Rajab Ali, Ali Uzair, Imran Kiyani, Harun Hamid; forwards Shayak Dost, Otis Khan, Fareed Ullah, Abdul Samad Arshad, Muhammad Waleed Khan, Adeel Younas. The officials accompanying the team include head coach Stephen Constantine, goalkeeper coach Rogerio Ramos, performance coach Claudio Altieri, manager Muhammad Ali Khan, doctor Azam Khan, physio Muhammad Abdullah, media Haider Ali, and masseur Abdul Qayyum.
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