Pakistan football team to travel to Saudi Arabia tomorrow for AFC Asian Cup qualifier camp
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's national football team will travel to Saudi Arabia tomorrow, Thursday, where they will resume training for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifier fixture against Syria, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) said in a statement.
For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
Pakistan will kick off their AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualification campaign against Syria on Mar. 25 at the Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
The green shirts concluded their training session in the eastern city of Lahore on Wednesday night, the PFF said.
"The team is set to depart for Saudi Arabia tomorrow night, where they will continue their training under the guidance of Head Coach Stephen Constantine," the PFF said.
Earlier this month, Pakistan reappointed Constantine, who previously served as the country's head coach from late 2023 until mid-2024, as head coach for the Syria fixture.
Pakistan's inclusion in the qualifier was made possible after the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) lifted its international suspension against the country earlier this month.
FIFA hit Pakistan on Feb. 6 with a third international suspension in less than eight years after the federation rejected its electoral reforms. Following the suspension, the PFF unanimously approved FIFA's proposed constitutional amendments in an extraordinary meeting in Lahore this month.
Pakistan are placed in Group E of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers alongside Syria, Afghanistan and Myanmar.
PAKISTAN PROBABLES
Goalkeepers: Yousuf Butt, Saqib Hanif, Abdul Basit and Adam Khan
Defenders: Abdullah Iqbal, Easah Suliman, Haseeb Khan, Junaid Shah, Mamoon Moosa, Mohammad Fazal, Abdul Rehman and Waqar Ihtisam
Midfielders: Alamgir Ghazi, Ali Uzair, Ali Zafar, Muhammad Umar Hayat, Rahis Nabi, Toqeer ul Hassan, Umair Ali and Moin Ahmed
Forwards: Fareedullah, Harun Hamid, Imran Kayani, Mckeal Abdullah, Abdul Samad, Shayak Dost and Muhammad Adeel Younas
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Ronaldo says he does not plan to play at Club World Cup in US
Al Nassr and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo said on Saturday he did not plan to play at the Club World Cup in the United States, despite being courted by clubs participating in the expanded 32-team tournament. Speculation over the 40-year-old's future intensified last month when FIFA President Gianni Infantino said discussions were underway about Ronaldo playing in the Club World Cup, despite Al Nassr failing to qualify. Al Nassr's sporting director Fernando Hierro said last month they were negotiating with Ronaldo over a contract extension but faced competition from a host of clubs eager to sign the five-times Ballon d'Or winner. Ronaldo himself added to the uncertainty after Al Nassr's season-ending match at Al-Fateh, posting on social media: 'This chapter is over. The story? Still being written.' Asked about the possibility of signing for another club in the coming days in order to play at the Club World Cup later this month, Ronaldo told reporters: 'It's irrelevant, at the moment it doesn't make sense to talk about things other than the national team. 'There has been plenty of contact (from clubs), I see things that make sense, others that don't. You can't go to all of them (clubs), you have to think short, medium and long term. 'It's something that's practically decided on my part, which is not to go to the Club World Cup, but I've had plenty of invitations.' On Wednesday, Ronaldo scored the winner as Portugal beat Germany 2-1 to go into the Nations League final, where they will face Spain. Many have labelled Sunday's final as a face-off between Ronaldo and 17-year-old Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal but the Portuguese forward said he did not see it as such. 'It's always been like that, whenever I've played football, whenever I've played a big game it's always been Cristiano against this one, against that one,' he said. 'It's been 20-something years and it's still the same, it doesn't keep me up at night anymore, it's a normal thing. They're completely different generations, a generation that's starting out, another that's finishing, which is my case.' 'In reality it's not like that, it's a team against a team. It will always be like that... What I want most is for Portugal to be at a good level, confident that things can go well, that we can play a great game and win against a very good team, possibly the best in the world.'
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Jordanians bask in glory of World Cup qualification
AMMAN: Huge celebrations erupted in Jordan after the national team qualified for the 2026 World Cup, earning a spot in the tournament for the first time following a decisive 3-0 victory against Oman. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Fans drove their cars through Jordan's capital Amman late Thursday, honking their horns and chanting victory while others waved the national flag in triumph. 'We are all with you!' and 'It's getting closer, heroes' read messages written into the night sky in a spectacular drone light show. Jordan sealed their place on the penultimate day of Asian qualifying for the 2026 tournament, which will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Ali Olwin netted a hat-trick as the 2023 Asian Cup runners-up etched their name in the history books. They secured their spot in the World Cup when South Korea defeated Iraq, also on Thursday, 2-0. The royal court published pictures of King Abdullah II wearing a national team jersey as he watched the game from the embassy in London, where he was on a visit. 'This historic qualification is well-deserved by our team, which includes stars and cadres of whom we are proud,' he wrote on X. 'Special thanks go to our loyal fans who have been our support and encouragement.' Sohad Idrissi, a 48-year-old housewife who watched the game with her siblings, beamed with pride as she said that her side had played 'a beautiful game and deserved to qualify for the World Cup.' 'Today the joy is two-fold: there is the joy of Eid Al-Adha, and the joy of Nashama qualifying,' she said, using a nickname for the Jordanian team. Fadi Qalanzi, a 21-year-old university student, called the win 'a dream that is finally coming true.' 'Our team put on a beautiful performance, and they truly deserved to qualify,' he added. Osama Al-Shreeda, a 60-year-old retired civil servant, also called it a dream come true. 'I've been following Jordanian football since 1978, and a relative of mine used to play with the national team,' he said. 'It's a great opportunity for our team and its players to be recognized globally,' he added, calling it an achievement not just for Jordan but for the wider Arab region. 'It was about time, this is a joy we'd been waiting for a long time,' said 55-year-old schoolteacher Nashat Badr.
Asharq Al-Awsat
a day ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi PIF Partners with FIFA for 2025 Club World Cup
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and world football association FIFA have announced PIF as an official partner of FIFA Club World Cup 2025, which will take place in the United States from June 14 to July 13. The partnership reflects the shared vision of FIFA and PIF to enable greater participation in sports by unlocking new opportunities, fostering innovation, and engaging fans around the world. With a focus on youth, the partnership will provide opportunities for young people, supporting FIFA in its efforts to engage and inspire at a grassroots level. The new FIFA Club World Cup 2025 marks a fresh chapter for professional club football on the global stage. It will feature 32 of the world's top football clubs, bringing together champions from all six FIFA confederations for a month-long tournament in 11 cities across the United States. Football is the most popular sport in Saudi Arabia and globally. The Saudi public will follow the tournament, where Al-Hilal Club participates as a representative of the Asian continent. 'We are delighted to welcome PIF as a partner of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™,' said FIFA chief business officer Romy Gai. 'Together, we look forward to delivering a historic tournament that inspires and unites fans from around the world.' 'The partners of the first-ever 32-team FIFA Club World Cup believe in our vision to make football truly global. Their support of the tournament will not only be integral to its success but will underpin investment in supporting the development of club football everywhere,' Gai said. PIF head of corporate brand Mohammed AlSayyad said: 'PIF is creating a legacy of transformative impact in sports including through its partnerships, delivering positive and lasting results at every level, from players and fans to host communities.' 'PIF is at the forefront of growing football around the world following our CONCACAF partnership announced last year and our continued investment in football. We are unlocking opportunities to drive the growth of the sport around the world,' AlSayyad said. Football plays a crucial role in the ongoing transformation of Saudi Arabia, and as host of the FIFA World Cup 2034, reinforces the country's ambition to grow the game globally, create new opportunities for all, and extend its benefits in Saudi Arabia and every part of the world for generations to come. The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be played in 12 stadiums across 11 US host cities. The 63-match tournament will culminate with what promises to be a spectacular final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, just outside of New York City, on July 13, when the FIFA club world champion will be crowned.
