Pakistan suffers 3-0 defeat to Tajikistan in FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers

DUSHANBE: Tajikistan defeated Pakistan by a 3-0 victory in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers held in Dushanbe on Tuesday.

The home team took an early lead when Mabateshoev Shervoni scored the first goal for the Tasjik team. The Central Asian team maintained their lead in the second half, with Safarov Manuchehr and Vahdat Hanonov scoring the second and third goal, respectively.

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Pakistan ended their qualifying campaign at the bottom of Group G, losing all six matches. Earlier defeats included a 3-0 loss to Saudi Arabia at the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad. Their journey began with losses to Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan in November, followed by defeats to Jordan during the Ramazan.

Logistical challenges nearly prevented the Pakistan squad from reaching Dushanbe, with flight cancellations causing delays for some players and support staff. However, the air force intervened, helping the team’s travel to Tajikistan from Nur Khan air base on the day of the match.

Pakistan’s head coach Stephen Constantine expressed optimism about the team’s progress despite the setbacks. In a post-match press conference, he commended the players for their resilience and thanked the Tajikistan Football Federation for their hospitality.

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Looking ahead, Constantine said the team had improved since their last encounter with Tajikistan. He stressed the importance of continued development and expressed confidence in the team’s future prospects.