Pakistan football players left unpaid ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

KARACHI: Pakistani football players are facing financial difficulties as they prepare for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier, having not received payment for the past four months.

According to Geo, the players who represented Pakistan in the four-nation cup in Mauritius in June, followed by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship in India and the recent AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Bahrain, are owed approximately PKR1 million each in unpaid dues.

Despite the recent lifting of the FIFA ban, players and fans had hoped for progress regarding the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Normalisation Committee (NC). However, players and support staff involved in the aforementioned tournaments have yet to be compensated.

With the FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026 Qualifier against Cambodia scheduled for October 12 and 17, the players and support staff continue to wait for payment, despite assurances from the PFF.

Initially, players were told their payments would be made by mid-July, but the deadline passed without payment. Subsequently, the PFF cited a delay until mid-August, but the dues remained outstanding even after that extended date.

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The reports said that the players were also not reimbursed for travel expenses to attend training camps, and some even had to contribute to cover their teammates’ travel costs.

Geo reported that the PFF cited funding issues as the reason for delayed payments, even though FIFA had recently disbursed funds to the PFF. The situation has raised questions about unequal treatment, as permanent PFF staff continued to receive salaries while players remained unpaid.

Furthermore, there is uncertainty about whether Pakistan will host the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier against Cambodia in Pakistan. Despite selecting Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad as the venue in August, FIFA and AFC have not yet confirmed its approval.

Diaspora players within the team have also faced difficulties, including delayed payment and issues with obtaining passports, causing frustration among the affected footballers.

Meanwhile, the PFF’s handling of the national women’s team has also come under scrutiny, with allegations of bullying and unfair treatment made by players, including former captain Hajra Khan. The appointment of foreign coaches has faced budgetary constraints, leading to concerns about the development of women’s football in Pakistan.

A PFF official confirmed that the payment delay was due to a funding delay from FIFA but provided no timeline for when the funds would be released. The official stated that the reasons for the delay were unclear.