ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Jordan are scheduled to play their FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match today, Thursday, after the visiting team from the Middle East arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday night to compete with their hosts.
Last October, the Pakistan men’s football team beat Cambodia 1-0 to win their first ever FIFA World Cup qualifier in Islamabad. Pakistan subsequently lost 4-0 to Saudi Arabia in the second round.
The Pakistani players will now lock horns with Jordan at the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad on Mar. 21 followed by an away fixture in Jordan on Mar. 26.
“After 18 years, the Jordanian football team will play on Pakistani soil,” the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) said in a statement following the team’s arrival in Islamabad. “Their last visit to Pakistan was in 2006.”
Pakistan men’s football team coach Stephen Constantine acknowledged last week that Jordan was one of the best sides in Asia but vowed Pakistan would not “lay down” in front of their opponents.
“We have very little time to prepare for such a big game,” he said. “And unfortunately, we are going to play one of the best teams [Jordan] in Asia on 21st March ... We will fight against Jordan and not lay down.”
Pakistan up against Jordan in anticipated FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier today
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Pakistan up against Jordan in anticipated FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier today
- The Jordanian football team last visited Pakistan in 2006 and will play in the country after 18 years
- Pakistan’s coach recently acknowledged Jordan to be one of the strongest football sides in Asia
International Cricket Council in talks to revive India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash
- Pakistan face two-point loss and net run-rate hit if they forfeit Feb. 15 match
- ICC seeks dialogue after Pakistan boycott clash citing government directive
NEW DELHI, India: The International Cricket Council is in talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board to resolve the boycott of its T20 World Cup match against India on February 15, AFP learnt Saturday.
Any clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan is one of the most lucrative in cricket, worth millions of dollars in broadcast, sponsor and advertising revenue.
But the fixture was thrown into doubt after Pakistan’s government ordered the team not to play the match in Colombo.
The Pakistan Cricket Board reached out to the ICC after a formal communication from the cricket’s world body, a source close to the developments told AFP.
The ICC was seeking a resolution through dialogue and not confrontation, the source added.
The 20-team tournament has been overshadowed by an acrimonious political build-up after Bangladesh, who refused to play in India citing security concerns, were replaced by Scotland.
As a protest, Pakistan refused to face co-hosts India in their Group A fixture.
Pakistan, who edged out Netherlands in the tournament opener on Saturday, will lose two points if they forfeit the match and also suffer a significant blow to their net run rate.
India skipper Suryakumar Yadav said this week that his team would travel to Colombo for the clash.
Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for more than a decade, and meet only in global or regional tournaments.
