Pakistan names final football squad for World Cup qualifiers against ֱ, Tajikistan

Pakistan's players pose for a team picture before the start of the Group A South Asian Football Federation Championship match between India and Pakistan at the Shree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on June 21, 2023. (AFP/File)
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  • Pakistan will face ֱ men’s football team in Islamabad on June 6
  • South Asian country will take on Tajikistan on June 11 in Dushanbe in away fixture

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) on Tuesday announced the names of the final men’s squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against ֱ and Tajikistan, days before Pakistan plays home and away fixtures against the two teams. 

Pakistan will face ֱ at Islamabad’s Jinnah Football Stadium on June 6 in round 2 of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The clash takes place months after ֱ thumped Pakistan 4-0 in the first leg of the qualifying matches when the Group G sides faced off at Al Ahsa city in November 2023.

Pakistan suffered another setback in round one of the qualifiers when they lost 6-1 to Tajikistan in Islamabad days after losing to ֱ. The green shirts will face Tajikistan on June 11 in Dushanbe in what will be their final round 2 away fixture. The South Asian country are in Group G of the World Cup qualifiers with ֱ, Jordan and Tajikistan. 

“The PFF has named the final national men’s squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier Round 2 matches against ֱ and Tajikistan,” the PFF said in a statement.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Yousuf Butt (D), Saqib Hanif and Hassan Ali

Defenders: Abdullah Iqbal (D), Mohammad Fazal (D), Haseeb Khan, Rao Omer Hayat, Mamoon Moosa, Mohammad Saddam, Waqar Ihtisham, Moin Ahmed and Abdul Rehman

Midfielders: Rahis Nabi (D), Otis Khan (D), Ali Uzair, Umair Ali, Toqeer ul Hassan, Alamgir Ghazi and Ali Zafar

Forwards: Imran Kayani (D), McKeal Abdulah, Fareedulah, Adeel Younas and Shayak Dost

In the second round of the qualifiers, a total of 36 football squads have been split into nine groups with four teams each. The winners and runners-up from each group would go through to the third round.
Fans can buy tickets for Pakistan’s match against ֱ on Bookme.pk.