The Saudi Arabian football squad has arrived in Pakistan to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at Islamabad’s Jinnah Stadium.
Greeting at the Airport
The team, accompanied by their well-known manager Roberto Mancini and assistant coach Yaya Toure, took a chartered aeroplane from Riyadh to Islamabad. When the team arrived at Islamabad International Airport, Pakistani officials and KSA ambassador Nawaf Bin-Said Al-Malki greeted them.
Rescheduled Visit
Saudi Arabia had to postpone their visit to Pakistan. The team was initially scheduled to depart Islamabad two days before the match, but that was then shortened to one day due to the unfavorable state of Jinnah Stadium and the lack of suitable training grounds.
Pakistan’s Team Announcement
Pakistan announced their team for the game in the interim. For the eagerly awaited match, 18-year-old striker Mckeal Abdullah will support the Pakistani football squad.
EFL League One
Mansfield Town, which competes in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system, is the team Abdullah plays for. But after earning promotion, the team will compete in EFL League One in the 2024–2025 seasons.
Adam Khan, the goalkeeper for Blackburn Rovers U21, who was also called up for the camp, was left out of the final roster. The Pakistani team has also welcomed back left-back Muhammad Fazal and standout winger Otis Khan. Easah Suliman, the team’s captain and standout defender, will not be able to play due to his yearly Islamic journey to Hajj.
Pakistan’s Recent Performance
Pakistan has lost all four of its games thus far, placing them at the bottom of Group G. In November, Pakistan started their adventure with a 4-0 loss to Saudi Arabia in Al-Ahsa and a 6-1 loss to Tajikistan in Islamabad that same month.
Then, in a Ramadan match played in Islamabad, Jordan defeated Pakistan 3-0; the Shaheens lost the rematch, which was played at the Amman International Stadium, 7-0.
Squad
- Yousuf Butt (D), Saqib Hanif, and Hassan Ali as goalkeepers
- Mohammad Fazal (D), Abdullah Iqbal (D), Rao Omer Hayat, Mamoon Moosa, Mohammad Saddam, Waqar Ihtisham, Moin Ahmed, and Abdul Rehman are the defenders.
- Midfielders: Ali Uzair, Umair Ali, Rahis Nabi (D), Otis Khan (D), Toqeer ul Hassan, Alamgir Ghazi, and Ali Zafar
- Forwards: Shayak Dost, Adeel Younas, McKeal Abdulah, Fareedulah, and Imran Kayani (D).
