ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national football team will face Afghanistan in Kuwait today, Tuesday, in the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 qualifiers, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) said.

The match comes at a time of heightened tensions between the two neighbors, following recent military clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border that left several soldiers dead on both sides. The escalation has stirred public anger in both nations, raising fears that the rivalry could spill over into the sporting arena as the two teams meet again just days after a tense draw in Islamabad.

Afghanistan will host the return leg at Kuwait City’s Sabah Al Salem Stadium. The 2027 Asian Cup, featuring 24 teams, will be held in Saudi Arabia for the first time, and the qualification rounds also serve as part of Asia’s preliminary qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“Pakistan is ready for [the] crucial away clash against Afghanistan,” the PFF quoted Pakistan football team head coach Nolberto Solano as saying in a post on X.

“We go again tomorrow with the same attitude and desire to win; the focus is on getting three points. It’s football — anything can happen [...].”

Pakistan and Afghanistan’s first-leg match at Islamabad’s Jinnah Stadium ended in a goalless draw last week, marked by strong defensive play and passionate crowd support.

Pakistan’s national football side has struggled historically to make a mark on the international stage but continues to show gradual progress, boosted by foreign-based players and revived federation activity.

Team captain Abdullah Iqbal said the squad was confident of improving its performance.

“I promise we will go out there and give everything we have and hopefully, inshallah, bring back the three points,” the PFF quoted him as saying in a post on X.

According to the Afghanistan Football Federation, head coach Vincenzo Alberto said his players were in good condition and ready for their first win of the campaign.

The upcoming fixture’s charged atmosphere recalls other politically sensitive sporting encounters in South Asia, most recently scenes from the Pakistan–India T20 World Cup encounter earlier this year, when matches were overshadowed by political friction. 

Players from both sides pointedly avoided shaking hands before or after all three matches, a rare breach of cricketing etiquette that drew international attention.