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Pakistan Football Team (Source: Twitter)
Football enthusiasts in Pakistan have a reason to rejoice as the country prepares to host its first international football game after an absence of eight years. This momentous event is a qualifier match against Cambodia for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The game is scheduled to take place in the capital city of Islamabad on Tuesday.
The country's last international match on home soil was in 2015 against Afghanistan in Lahore. Meanwhile, the previous home World Cup qualifier game against Bangladesh took place in 2011. Mohammad Yashal, an official of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), emphasised that the return of international football signifies a fresh beginning. It also provides fans with the opportunity to witness global players in action after a prolonged break.
Security concerns and internal conflicts within the PFF were the primary factors leading to the absence of international football. A qualifier match for the 2018 World Cup against Yemen, initially scheduled in Pakistan, was relocated to Manama, Bahrain, due to security apprehensions. Similarly, a 2019 World Cup qualifier against Cambodia was shifted to Qatar following FIFA's suspension of the PFF's membership due to unauthorised external interference in the country's football governance.
FIFA restored Pakistan's membership in 2022
The PFF faced a tumultuous period marked by a hostile takeover of its headquarters in Lahore in 2021, leading to the suspension of its membership. However, FIFA restored the PFF's membership in June 2022, paving the way for the revitalization of football activities in the nation.
Football has long been a beloved sport in Pakistan, particularly in rural regions, although the national team's global ranking stands at 197th place in the FIFA world rankings. Despite the challenges, the town of Lyari in Karachi, known as "mini-Brazil," has produced numerous talented football players over the years, contributing to the country's football legacy.