FPDC Editorial: With FIFA granting a generous extension to the PFF Normalisation Committee's mandate till December 2024, NC must also plan, and secure funding for, actual football.
Category: Asian Cup
![How Asia’s World Cup qualifying format disadvantages its weakest teams [CGTN]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Pakistan-fans-at-Jinnah-Stadium-Pakistan-vs-Jordan-2026-FIFA-World-Cup-qualifiers-1160x535.jpg "How Asia’s World Cup qualifying format disadvantages its weakest teams [CGTN]")
March29March 29, 2024
How Asia’s World Cup qualifying format disadvantages its weakest teams [CGTN]
Pakistan's recent double-header against heavyweights Jordan, as part of the FIFA World Cup-AFC Asian Cup joint 2nd round qualifiers, saw them concede 10 goals over the two games. The defeats may have left Pakistani football fans disheartened, but participating in the 2nd round represents progress for a team that had never previously made it past the 1st round.
![FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Pakistan football needs more than luck to go past global goalposts [Geo News]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Pakistan-vs-Tajikistan-2026-FIFA-World-Cup-qualifiers-3-1160x535.jpeg "FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Pakistan football needs more than luck to go past global goalposts [Geo News]")
November27November 27, 2023
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Pakistan football needs more than luck to go past global goalposts [Geo News]
Pakistan has always had a complicated relationship with football, be it toxic discourse over local and diaspora players, lack of facilities or turmoil surrounding PFF.
![Familiar foes Constantine, Segrt meet as Pakistan face Tajikistan test [Dawn]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Stephen-Constantine-and-Petar-Sgert-Pakistan-vs-Tajikistan-2026-FIFA-World-Cup-qualifiers-1160x535.jpg "Familiar foes Constantine, Segrt meet as Pakistan face Tajikistan test [Dawn]")
November21November 21, 2023
Familiar foes Constantine, Segrt meet as Pakistan face Tajikistan test [Dawn]
Both managers had faced each other twice in SAFF Championship finals with different national teams. Now they clash today in Jinnah Stadium for WCQs Round Two fixture.
![Pakistan show grit but go down 4-0 to Saudi Arabia [Dawn]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Saleh-al-Shehri-scores-for-Saudi-Arabia-vs-Pakistan-2026-FIFA-World-Cup-qualifiers-1160x535.jpeg "Pakistan show grit but go down 4-0 to Saudi Arabia [Dawn]")
November17November 17, 2023
Pakistan show grit but go down 4-0 to Saudi Arabia [Dawn]
Saleh al-Shehri's brace and further goals deep in stoppage time by Abdulrahman Ghareeb and Abdullah Radif made Saudi Arabia overcome a dogged Pakistan defence in WCQs Round Two.
![Pakistan face Saudi Arabia test in World Cup qualifying [Dawn]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Al-Fateh-Stadium-in-Al-Ahsa-Saudi-Arabia-1160x535.jpg "Pakistan face Saudi Arabia test in World Cup qualifying [Dawn]")
November16November 16, 2023
Pakistan face Saudi Arabia test in World Cup qualifying [Dawn]
Al-Fateh Stadium in Al-Ahsa to see hosts Saudi Arabia face Pakistan in Group G fixture for 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2027 AFC Asian Cup joint qualifiers Round Two. 36 teams spread across 9 groups.
![Constantine sets sights on Asian Cup as Pakistan enter uncharted territory [Dawn]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Stephen-Constantine-1105x535.png "Constantine sets sights on Asian Cup as Pakistan enter uncharted territory [Dawn]")
November11November 11, 2023
Constantine sets sights on Asian Cup as Pakistan enter uncharted territory [Dawn]
When asked if Pakistan can qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup, head coach Stephen Constantine bluntly replied “No we can’t … we’re not ready for it. But what we can do [in the next six matches] is build a team and try to qualify for the Asian Cup.”
![Kayani drafted into Pak squad for Qualifiers [The News]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Stephen-Constantine-Imran-Kayani-Pakistan-MNT-training-before-2026-WCQs-Round-Two-1160x535.jpg "Kayani drafted into Pak squad for Qualifiers [The News]")
November11November 11, 2023
Kayani drafted into Pak squad for Qualifiers [The News]
Stephen Constantine said that playing these six games against difficult opponents like Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Tajikistan in WCQs Round Two will be important to prepare for 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
![Harun the hero as Pakistan make World Cup qualifying history [Dawn]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Harun-Hamid-and-Rao-Umer-Hayat-Pakistan-vs-Cambodia-2026-FIFA-World-Cup-qualifiers-1160x535.jpg "Harun the hero as Pakistan make World Cup qualifying history [Dawn]")
October18October 18, 2023
Harun the hero as Pakistan make World Cup qualifying history [Dawn]
Pakistan marked their first home game in eight years to win their first ever WCQ match thanks to 1-0 win over Cambodia in Islamabad
![Harun stars in Pakistan win over Cambodia [The News]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Pakistan-celebrate-beating-Cambodia-in-2026-FIFA-World-Cup-qualifiers-at-Jinnah-Stadium-Islamabad-1160x535.jpg "Harun stars in Pakistan win over Cambodia [The News]")
October18October 18, 2023
Harun stars in Pakistan win over Cambodia [The News]
Pakistan finally win a FIFA World Cup qualification match after a 1-0 win over Cambodia at Jinnah Stadium to reach Round Two stage.