The Saudi Arabian football team has touched down in Pakistan, ready to face off in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad.
This pivotal match has drawn significant attention, with Saudi Arabia being a formidable contender led by renowned manager Roberto Mancini and supported by former footballer Yaya Toure.
Upon their arrival at Islamabad International Airport, the Saudi squad received a warm welcome from Pakistani officials and the Saudi Arabian ambassador, Nawaf Bin-Said Al-Malki. However, their journey wasn’t without complications. Initially scheduled to arrive two days before the match, the team had to reschedule due to inadequate training facilities and subpar conditions at Jinnah Stadium, ultimately arriving just a day before the eagerly awaited fixture.
On the other side, the Pakistani football team, which has struggled throughout the qualifiers, named their squad on Tuesday. Notably, the lineup features 18-year-old striker McKeal Abdullah from Mansfield Town, who will soon be competing in EFL League One following his club’s promotion. Absent from the squad is Blackburn Rovers U21 goalkeeper Adam Khan, while star winger Otis Khan and left-back Mohammad Fazal return to provide a much-needed boost. Unfortunately, the team will miss their captain and star defender Easah Suliman, who is on the annual Islamic pilgrimage, Hajj.
Pakistan’s journey in the qualifiers has been challenging. Currently at the bottom of Group G, the team has yet to secure a win in their four matches. Their campaign started with a 4-0 defeat to Saudi Arabia in Al-Ahsa, followed by a 6-1 loss to Tajikistan in Islamabad. They then faced a 3-0 defeat to Jordan during Ramadan in Islamabad and suffered a 7-0 loss in the reverse fixture at Amman International Stadium.
After the crucial match against Saudi Arabia, Pakistan will gear up to face Tajikistan in their final group match of the second round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers.
