Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan's slim hopes for AFC Asian Cup 2027
In a disappointing turn of events, Pakistan and Afghanistan have both failed to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 following a series of unfortunate results in the qualifiers.
India and Bangladesh, placed together in Group C, both are also on the verge of elimination from the qualifying stage.
India, placed in Group C alongside Bangladesh, Singapore, and Hong Kong, suffered a second consecutive defeat after their 1-0 loss to Hong Kong.
This follows a 0-0 draw with Bangladesh in their opening match, leaving them at the bottom of the group with a single point.
Bangladesh, too, saw their hopes dashed after losing to Singapore 2-1, slipping to third place in the group after India, also with a single point.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's campaign in Group E ended in disappointment after a 1-0 loss to Myanmar.
Their earlier defeat to Syria added to their woes, leaving them with no points in the group after 2 matches and effectively out of contention.
Afghanistan, who have struggled throughout the qualifiers, lost to Syria 1-0 in their second match after an earlier defeat to Tajikistan, also finding themselves at the bottom of their group.
The road to the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia continues to be a tough one for these nations, as only the winners of each of the six groups in the third round will secure a place in the prestigious tournament. With their elimination confirmed, these teams will now turn their focus on future competitions, hoping to bounce back stronger in the next qualifying cycle.
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Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Express Tribune
Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan's slim hopes for AFC Asian Cup 2027
In a disappointing turn of events, Pakistan and Afghanistan have both failed to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 following a series of unfortunate results in the qualifiers. India and Bangladesh, placed together in Group C, both are also on the verge of elimination from the qualifying stage. India, placed in Group C alongside Bangladesh, Singapore, and Hong Kong, suffered a second consecutive defeat after their 1-0 loss to Hong Kong. This follows a 0-0 draw with Bangladesh in their opening match, leaving them at the bottom of the group with a single point. Bangladesh, too, saw their hopes dashed after losing to Singapore 2-1, slipping to third place in the group after India, also with a single point. Meanwhile, Pakistan's campaign in Group E ended in disappointment after a 1-0 loss to Myanmar. Their earlier defeat to Syria added to their woes, leaving them with no points in the group after 2 matches and effectively out of contention. Afghanistan, who have struggled throughout the qualifiers, lost to Syria 1-0 in their second match after an earlier defeat to Tajikistan, also finding themselves at the bottom of their group. The road to the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia continues to be a tough one for these nations, as only the winners of each of the six groups in the third round will secure a place in the prestigious tournament. With their elimination confirmed, these teams will now turn their focus on future competitions, hoping to bounce back stronger in the next qualifying cycle.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
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Pak lose to Myanmar in Asian Cup qualifiers
Pakistan lost to Myanmar 1-0 in the Asian Football Confederation 2027 Asian Cup Qualifier third round in Yangon in their second Group E match at Thuwunna Stadium on Tuesday. The team lost to the hosts when Than Paing scored the winner in the 41st minute. Pakistan lost their first Group E match to Syria 2-0 on March 25. They are currently at the bottom of the group and will play their next fixture against Afghanistan in October. Myanmar are leading the group and they are poised to qualify for the main event that will take place in Saudi Arabia with 24 teams vying for the trophy. Only the winners of each of the six groups in the third round of qualifiers will proceed to the main event. Pakistan qualified for the third round of the Asian Cup qualifiers after they played the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Meanwhile, before the match with Myanmar, Pakistan Head Coach Stephan Constantine acknowledged the challenge ahead in the press conference on June 9 while also thanking the Myanmar Football Federation for hosting the team, "I think for us it will be a very difficult game. For Pakistan, all of the games are difficult. I think everyone knows our situation, but we have a good group of players. They have worked hard over the last few days and we will come here to try to win the game." Pakistan team assembled in Islamabad for the training camp on June 3. Stephan also added in his previous press conference that the Green Shirts were against the group-favourite team. "Myanmar won their last game, so, of course, they're playing at home, they will be favourites for this game. But we will fight like we do in every game and we will try to get the result that we want, which is to win. We didn't come here to lose," said the Englishman. Meanwhile, on the front of Pakistan Football Fedetation's affairs, Syed Mohsen Gilani, the newly elected President of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), paid his first official visit to the Football House in Lahore on June 8, 2025, following his historic election victory in May. Mohsen Gillani received a warm welcome from Muhammad Shahid Niaz Khokhar, Acting General Secretary and NC Member, along with Barrister Haris Azmat, a fellow member of the Normalisation Committee (NC).
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FIFA lifts suspension on Pakistan Football Federation
Listen to article The International Federation of Football Association (FIFA) has lifted the ban on the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) following the successful constitutional amendments. The ban was revoked after the PFF Congress approved FIFA's proposed amendments to the federation's constitution during an Extraordinary Congress session held in Lahore last week. "The Bureau of the Fifa Council decided on March 2, 2025, to lift the suspension that was imposed on the PFF," Fifa said in a statement. The amendments were introduced to ensure transparency in the election process, a key requirement set by Fifa and the AFC. Shahid Khokhar, a member of the PFF Normalisation Committee, confirmed the development, calling it a "positive step for Pakistan football." With the suspension lifted, Pakistan is eligible to resume international football activities, including participation in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. The PFF will need to make swift arrangements for its upcoming qualifier against Syria later this month. Fifa's decision reinstates all of PFF's membership rights, allowing the country's representative and club teams to compete in international competitions once again. FIFA has suspended the PFF multiple times due to governance issues and third-party interference. Notably:
