Pakistan Football 2026: Team News, Fixtures and Rankings
Pakistan football has had a rollercoaster 2026: a trophy lift in the Maldives in June, a difficult FIFA ASEAN Cup campaign in September and October, and a mouth-watering SAFF Championship clash with India awaiting in November. As reported on 15 October 2026, the national side is regrouping after its group-stage exit in Indonesia.
Ranked near the bottom of FIFA’s global standings, Pakistan football is rebuilding with a young squad built around overseas-based talent, and the calendar ahead offers genuine chances to climb.
Pakistan Football at the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026
the national side competed as one of three invited guest teams at the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup, held from 24 September to 5 October 2026 in Indonesia and Hong Kong, China. Drawn in Division 1 Group B with Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines, Pakistan opened with a 4-0 defeat to Thailand on 26 September in Bandung, drew 2-2 with the Philippines on 29 September (goals from Khan and Arshad), and lost 4-2 to Vietnam on 2 October in Jakarta (Mohib and Kaleemullah scoring for Pakistan).
The results ended Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the final stage on 5 October, but the tournament gave the young side three competitive internationals against strong opposition.
Fixtures: SAFF Championship 2026
The next the Green Shirts fixtures come at the SAFF Championship 2026, running from 4 to 17 November 2026. Pakistan are in Group B with a blockbuster opener against India on 5 November, followed by Maldives on 8 November. Both fixtures are high-stakes: the India game is the region’s fiercest rivalry, and the Maldives match offers a realistic route to the knockout rounds.
2026 Results and Diamond Jubilee Triumph
The year began with a 1-2 home defeat to Myanmar in AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualification on 31 March at the Jinnah Sports Stadium in Islamabad. But June brought the team’s brightest moment of the year: the Diamond Jubilee Football Tournament in Malé, Maldives, where Pakistan beat the Maldives 3-0 (Nawaz, Arshad, Hamid), defeated Afghanistan 2-0 (Nawaz, Hamid) and then won the final against Afghanistan 2-0 (Shayak, Hamid) to lift the trophy.
Across 2026 the record stands at eight fixtures: three wins, four defeats and two draws (counting the drawn friendlies), with the Afghanistan and Maldives victories standing out.
Rankings and Key Players
In FIFA’s world ranking listings, the national squad sits at around 198th — the perennial challenge for a side starved of regular fixtures and professional league football at home. Captain Easah Suliman, the 28-year-old defender who plays his club football for Sumqayit FK in Azerbaijan, leads the squad, with forwards Mohib, Kaleemullah, Arshad and Hamid among the goals in 2026.
How to Follow the SAFF Championship
Supporters wanting to follow the national side at the SAFF Championship should watch for official fixture announcements from the South Asian Football Federation in the weeks before kickoff. Matches are typically broadcast by regional sports channels, with live scores available on FIFA’s official match centre. Tickets for the November fixtures usually go on sale through the host association’s ticketing partners, and travelling fans are advised to book early for the India game, which always draws a full house.
For the Green Shirts, the November window is about more than results: strong performances would lift the side’s FIFA ranking points and build momentum for the next round of AFC Asian Cup qualification fixtures in 2027.
For more, see our the national side team history guide and the the Green Shirts League 2026 overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the team play India next?
the national squad faces India on 5 November 2026 in Group B of the SAFF Championship 2026, followed by Maldives on 8 November.
How did the national side perform at the ASEAN Cup 2026?
Pakistan lost 4-0 to Thailand, drew 2-2 with the Philippines and lost 4-2 to Vietnam at the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup in September and October 2026.
Did the Green Shirts win anything in 2026?
Yes. the team won the Diamond Jubilee Football Tournament in the Maldives in June 2026, beating Afghanistan 2-0 in the final.
What is Pakistan’s FIFA ranking?
Pakistan sits around 198th in FIFA’s world ranking listings, reflecting the side’s lack of regular competitive fixtures.
Who captains the the national squad team?
Defender Easah Suliman, who plays club football for Sumqayit FK in Azerbaijan, captains the national side.
Read the ASEAN Cup schedule at Pakera on the FIFA ASEAN Cup and the full results archive at Wikipedia on Pakistan’s results.
In-Depth Guide: Pakistan Football 2026
Pakistan football in 2026 is a story of potential slowly finding structure. This guide covers Pakistan football team fixtures, the Pakistan football ranking FIFA journey, key Pakistan football team players, and the Pakistan super league football conversation.
Pakistan Football Team Fixtures and Campaigns
Pakistan football team fixtures centre on AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, SAFF Championship campaigns and FIFA World Cup qualifying rounds. Each campaign is a measuring stick: results against similarly-ranked Asian teams show whether development programmes are working. Home fixtures, when held in Pakistan with proper crowds, give the team a genuine lift — Lahore’s football atmosphere surprises visiting sides.
Pakistan Football Ranking FIFA: The Climb
The Pakistan football ranking FIFA position reflects years of administrative turmoil as much as on-pitch performance. Climbing requires the unglamorous stuff: regular friendlies, consistent coaching and competitive domestic football. Every ranking point earned now compounds — better rankings mean kinder qualifying draws, which mean more winnable games.
Pakistan Football Team Players to Watch
Key Pakistan football team players increasingly include diaspora talent from England and Europe alongside domestic standouts — a blend that has already produced memorable results. The domestic pipeline matters most long-term: departmental and club football needs stability so young players get weekly competitive minutes. Fans should follow the emerging generation; Pakistan football breakthroughs will come from teenagers getting proper coaching today.
The Franchise League Question
The long-discussed Pakistan super league football concept — a professional franchise league — could transform the sport’s economics: salaries, broadcast revenue and sponsorship that make football a viable career. Until it launches, departmental football and the PFF’s competitions carry the load. For Pakistan football to rise, the league question needs an answer, not another announcement.
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