Islamabad: The round two of qualifiers FIFA World Cup 2026 is underway while Saudi Arabia team has reached Pakistan.
The team was warmly received by Pakistan officials and the Saudi Arabian ambassador Nawaf Bin-Said Al-Malki upon their arrival at Islamabad International Airport.
The match between Pakistan and Saud Arabia will be played today at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad.
The squad, led by renowned manager Roberto Mancini and assisted by former footballer Yaya Toure,
The team will feature 18-year-old striker McKeal Abdullah, who currently plays for Mansfield Town in EFL League Two and will be competing in EFL League One in the upcoming season following his club’s promotion.
Pakistan, currently at the bottom of Group G, has yet to secure a win in their four matches.
Their campaign began with a 4-0 defeat against Saudi Arabia in Al-Ahsa in November, followed by a 6-1 loss to Tajikistan at Islamabad.
Subsequent matches saw them suffer a 3-0 defeat to Jordan during Ramadan in Islamabad and a 7-0 loss in the reverse fixture at Amman International Stadium.
Following the match against Saudi Arabia, Pakistan will face Tajikistan in their final group match of the second round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers.
Pakistan squad for match
Goalkeepers: Yousuf Butt (D), Saqib Hanif, Hassan Ali
Defenders: Abdullah Iqbal (D), M ohammad Fazal (D), Haseeb Khan, Rao Omer Hayat, Mamoon Moosa, Mohammad Saddam, Waqar Ihtisham, Moin Ahmed, Abdul Rehman
Midfielders: Rahis Nabi (D), Otis Khan (D), Ali Uzair, Umair Ali, Toqeer ul Hassan, Alamgir Ghazi, Ali Zafar
Forwards: Imran Kayani (D), McKeal Abdullah, Fareedullah, Adeel Younas, Shayak Dost
The arrival of the Saudi team and the lineup announcement by Pakistan have set the stage for an exciting encounter at Jinnah Stadium, as both teams gear up for a crucial match in their World Cup qualifying journey.
