FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: SA squad to land in Islamabad on June 5

ISLAMABAD: The Saudi Arabian football team is set to arrive in Islamabad on June 5, ahead of their crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match against Pakistan.

The Saudi squad will travel from Riyadh via a chartered flight, landing in the Pakistani capital for their match scheduled on June 6 at the Jinnah Football Stadium.

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This encounter marks Pakistan’s final home match in the second round of the qualifiers. Following this, Pakistan will face Tajikistan away at Dushanbe Central Stadium on June 11.

Earlier, the head coach of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) finalised a squad featuring nine diaspora players, including notable goalkeeper Yusuf Butt. Despite his efforts, Abdul Samad Arshad from Denmark did not make the final list. Meanwhile, Adam Khan and McKeal Abdullah are set to make their debut appearances for the national team.

Prominent names such as Harun Hamid, Otis Khan, Imran Kayani, Rahis Nabi, Mohammad Fazal, and Abdullah Iqbal have been included in the squad, indicating a mix of experience and fresh talent.

Pakistan’s journey in the qualifiers has been challenging, as they currently sit at the bottom of Group G, having lost all four of their matches. Their campaign began with a 4-0 defeat to Saudi Arabia in Al-Ahsa in November, followed by a 6-1 loss to Tajikistan in Islamabad.

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They also suffered a 3-0 defeat to Jordan during Ramadan and a 7-0 loss in the reverse fixture at the Amman International Stadium.

Despite these setbacks, the Pakistani team has been diligently refining their skills and tactics to better confront their opponents. The upcoming match against Saudi Arabia is crucial for both teams as they vie for a spot in the FIFA World Cup 2026.