Islamabad: The Saudi Arabian football team is coming to Pakistan on June 6 for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers to be held at the Jinnah Stadium.
The team traveled from Riyadh to Islamabad on a scheduled flight, accompanied by legendary manager Roberto Mancini and assistant coach Ayaya Toure.
The delegation was received at Islamabad International Airport by Pakistani officials and KSA Ambassador Nawaf Bin-Said Al-Malki.
Saudi Arabia was forced to postpone its visit to Pakistan. The team was supposed to leave Islamabad two days before the match due to the bad condition of the Jinnah Stadium and the lack of proper training grounds, but it was rescheduled a day later.
Meanwhile, Pakistan have decided their squad for the match. The Pakistan football team will seek the help of 18-year-old striker Makkeal Abdullah for the much-anticipated match.
Abdullah plays for Mansfield Town, a team that competes in EFL 2, the fourth tier of the English football league system. However, the club will play in EFL League One for the 2024-25 season after gaining promotion.
However, Blackburn Rovers U21 goalkeeper Adam Khan, who was called up for camp, was left out of the final squad.
Meanwhile, star player Otis Khan and left-armer Mohammad Fazal have also returned to the Pakistan squad.
However, captain and star defender Easah Suliman, who is performing the annual pilgrimage, will not be available.
Pakistan are at the bottom of Group G as they have lost all four matches they have played so far. Pakistan were beaten 4-0 by Saudi Arabia in Al-Ahsa in November, followed by a 6-1 defeat by Tajikistan in Islamabad in the same month.
Jordan then beat Pakistan 3-0 in Islamabad, while the Falcons were also beaten 7-0 at the Amman International Stadium in a Ramadan match.
After the match against Saudi Arabia, Pakistan will lock horns with Tajikistan in the final group match in the second round of FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
Saudi Arabia team reaches Pakistan for Fifa World Cup 2026 Qualifier
