Pakistan football team to make historic debut at FIFA ASEAN Cup

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan football is stepping onto a bigger stage as the men’s national team prepares to make history with its debut at a FIFA event, taking part in the FIFA ASEAN Cup in September-October.

Pakistan are one of 14 teams who will take part in the tournament, and one of eight who will compete in Indonesia. The Shaheens are one of three teams to have been invited to participate in the tournament with 11 sides coming from Southeast Asia.

Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) President Syed Mohsen Gilani said ““The Pakistan Football Federation is extremely thankful to FIFA President Gianni Infantino for presenting us with the opportunity to participate in our second-ever FIFA event."

Gilani further added that following the women’s national team’s participation in the FIFA Series, it is now the men’s national team’s turn to make their debut at a FIFA event by featuring in the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup.

“It is time to dream big. We are not content with playing in development competitions. Pakistan is ready to mix it with the big boys. Pakistan football has well and truly arrived at the global stage,” Gillani said.

“The FIFA ASEAN Cup represents a huge opportunity for our men’s team to play high-profile competitive matches against some of the top teams in Southeast Asia during the extended 16-day international window in September/October,” he added.

The tournament will consist of two tiers of competition. The first tier, hosted by Indonesia, will feature Pakistan, Malaysia, India, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The second tier, the FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup, will be hosted by Hong Kong, China, and will include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Timor-Leste.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: “The FIFA ASEAN Cup was launched to provide national teams with meaningful competitive opportunities within the Men’s International Match Calendar, giving players the chance to represent their countries in high-intensity regional rivalries.

The FIFA president added that the tournament will strengthen football ties across Southeast Asia while delivering unforgettable moments and fantastic international action for fans throughout the region.

'A Test for Pakistani Players': PFF president

Talking to Pakistan TV Digital, Gillani said “It will mark the first time that the men’s national team takes part in a FIFA event, so there are new learnings at every step.”

He told Pakistan TV Digital that the tournament will be a test for Pakistani players, being pitted against teams who we don’t meet often. 

The president of PFF termed the exposure as “priceless”, adding that “I hope that we carry the learning’s onto the SAFF Championship in November and then to the next World Cup qualification cycle.”

Tournament format

Teams will be placed into groups according to the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking to ensure competitive balance and meaningful matches throughout the tournament. Each tier will be divided into two groups, with teams competing against each other in a single-round-robin format.

The winners of each section will advance to their respective finals to compete for the trophy, while the group runners-up will contest third-place matches.

The format of the FIFA ASEAN Cup is designed to provide high-quality international football, strengthen regional connections and create new opportunities for fans to engage with the game.