ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia’s national men’s football team is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on June 5, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) announced on Monday, as the two teams gear up to lock horns for their FIFA World Cup qualifier round 2 clash. 

Pakistan will face Saudi Arabia at the Jinnah Football Stadium in Islamabad on June 6. In the first leg of the FIFA World Cup qualifying fixtures, Saudi Arabia thrashed Pakistan 4-0 when the two Group G sides faced each other in Al Ahsa city last year. 

“Saudi Arabia’s football team will arrive in Islamabad on June 5,” the PFF said in a statement, adding that the away team would travel from Riyadh to Islamabad on a chartered flight.

The June 6 fixture against Saudi Arabia will be Pakistan’s last home match for the FIFA World Cup qualifying round. The green shirts will face Tajikistan on June 11 in what will be their final away fixture of round 2. Pakistan are in Group G of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers with Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Tajikistan. 

A total of 36 football squads have been split into nine groups with four teams each in the second round of qualifiers. The winners and runners-up from each group would go through to the third round.

Fans can buy tickets for Pakistan’s match against Saudi Arabia on Bookme.pk. 

Preliminary Pakistan squad
Goalkeepers: Hassan Ali and Tanveer
Defenders: Haseeb Khan, Mamoon Moosa Khan, Huzaifa, Waqar Ihtisham, Abdul Rehman, Umar Hayat, Muhammad Adeel, Muhammad Saddam and Zain ul Abideen
Midfielders: Yasir Arafat, Alamgir Ghazi, Ali Uzair, Rajab Ali, Moin Ali, Junaid Ahmed and Fahim
Forwards: Adeel Younas, Shayak Dost, Ali Zafar and Fareedullah
The PFF said the names of diaspora players joining the national training camp later would be included in the final squad