Author: SPORTSNAAMA

Khurram Shehzad : Saudi Arabia out classed Pakistan by 3-0 in FIFA World cup qualifier held at Jinnah stadium Islamabad on Thursday.

Saudia Arabia forwards continually attacked the Pakistan post in the first half of the game and got success in the 26th minutes when F. Al Buraikan scored first goal and in the 41th minutes Al Buraikan scored second goal and took the lead 2-0 in the first half.

Saudia Arabia dominated the game and in the 59th minutes of the match M. Aljuwayr scored third goal for Saudi Arabia which lasts at the end of the match. There were 20 thousand spectators present at the stadium to witness the mega contest. Which shows the popularity of football in Pakistan. The management of Pakistan sports board in collaboration with PFF organised the match accurately according to the FIFA standards which is appreciatable.

Islamabad: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) announced the final national men’s squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier Round 2 matches against Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan.Pakistan will face Saudi Arabia at the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad on June 6 followed by an away fixture against Tajikistan on June 11 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan with Diaspora (D) players already joined the team.Squad:Goalkeepers: Yousuf Butt (D), Saqib Hanif and Hassan AliDefenders: Abdullah Iqbal (D), Mohammad Fazal (D), Haseeb Khan, Rao Omer Hayat, Mamoon Moosa, Mohammad Saddam, Waqar Ihtisham, Moin Ahmed and Abdul RehmanMidfielders: Rahis Nabi (D), Otis Khan (D), Ali Uzair, Umair Ali, Toqeer ul Hassan, Alamgir Ghazi and Ali ZafarForwards: Imran Kayani (D), McKeal Abdulah, Fareedulah, Adeel Younas and Shayak DostPakistan are placed in Group G with Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Tajikistan.-ENDS-

Lahore :

The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has categorically stated that the franchise-based Pakistan Football League (PFL), which is claimed to be held in the next month, is an illegal event as per its statutes and has not been sanctioned by the federation.

The PFF is the sole governing body for football in Pakistan duly affiliated with FIFA and the AFC.

The PFF’s authority is reinforced by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) vide its letter dated September 9, 2014, according to which the government only engages with national sports federations recognized by their respective international bodies.

Participating in, organizing, or supporting any football event not sanctioned by the PFF is a clear violation of Article 82 of the PFF constitution and could lead to disciplinary measures.

Furthermore, the PFF emphasized that it encourages any project aimed at genuine football development in the country, provided it is duly approved by the federation.

Bangkok (Sportsnaama Report) : The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Normalisation Committee, led by Chairman Haroon Malik, accompanied by NC members Muhammad Shahid Niaz Khokhar and Saud Hashimi attended the 74th FIFA Congress held in Bangkok, Thailand.

The 74th Congress, which saw attendance from the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand Suriya Juangroongruangkit, FIFA Legends and other notable figures, was highlighted by several significant announcements and initiatives from FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

FIFA President announced Brazil as the host nation for the tenth FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027. He emphasized the need to stand up and combat racism, urging the football community to unite to eradicate the issue from the sport.

On the sidelines of the 74th Congress, the Pakistani delegation, led by Haroon Malik engaged in productive discussions with representatives from Korea, Belarus, Russia, Palestine and Germany. The meetings will play a crucial role in shaping the future of football in Pakistan and paving the way for new opportunities and development within the sport.

Lahore : A delegation from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) embarked on a 3-day visit to Pakistan, focusing on the football landscape. The delegation, comprising Lazarus Johnson, Head of AFC’s Strategic Planning and Advisory Unit, Sonam Jigmi, AFC Senior Manager of the South Asia Unit and Dinesh De Silva, Manager of the South Asia Unit, convened with the Department Heads of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) at the Football House in Lahore.

During the meeting, the AFC delegation engaged in fruitful discussions with the PFF Normalisation Committee leadership, including NC Chairman Haroon Malik and member Muhammad Shahid Niaz Khokhar.

The department heads provided the visiting dignitaries with a comprehensive overview of the significant events that happened over the past two years, along with forthcoming plans and initiatives.

The discussion delved into various aspects of Pakistan football including governance, finance, planning and administration with a special focus on enhancing the professional football landscape. They exchanged views and ideas aimed at addressing challenges and leveraging opportunities to propel the growth and development of football in Pakistan.

The assessment and recommendation exercise by the AFC will lead to a planning and implementation phase followed by rigorous monitoring by the Asian Football Governing Authority.