Pakistan men’s team to make historic FIFA ASEAN Cup debut

Pakistan’s men’s football team is set to make its debut at the FIFA ASEAN Cup, to be held in Indonesia from 21 September to 6 October, marking a significant milestone for the country’s footballing ambitions.

Pakistan are among the 14 teams taking part in the tournament and one of eight teams competing in Indonesia. The Shaheens are one of three invited teams, with the remaining 11 sides representing Southeast Asia. Following the announcement, Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) President Syed Mohsen Gilani thanked FIFA President Gianni Infantino for the opportunity. “The Pakistan Football Federation is extremely thankful to FIFA President Gianni Infantino for presenting us with the opportunity to participate in our second-ever FIFA event,” he said. “After the women’s national team participated in the FIFA Series, it is now the turn of our men’s national team to take part in their maiden FIFA tournaments.”

“It is time to dream big. We are not content with playing development competitions. Pakistan is not just with the big boys. Pakistan football truly arrived at the global stage,” said Gilani. “The ASEAN Cup aims to provide high-quality football, strengthen regional ties, and create new opportunities for fans to enjoy the game.”

The tournament will feature two tiers of competition. The top-tier FIFA ASEAN Cup, hosted by Indonesia, will include Pakistan, Malaysia, India, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The second-tier FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup will feature hosts Hong Kong, along with Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste. Teams will be allocated to groups based on the FIFA Men’s World Ranking to ensure competitive balance throughout the tournament. Each competition will be divided into two groups, with teams playing each other once in a round-robin format. The group winners will advance to their respective finals to compete for the title, while the runners-up will face off in the third-place playoff.

The historic debut marks a new chapter for Pakistani football on the international stage.