Islamabad: The Saudi Arabia football team has arrived in Pakistan for their FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match, scheduled for June 6 at Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad. The squad, including renowned manager Roberto Mancini and assistant coach Yaya Toure, traveled from Riyadh on a chartered flight.
Upon arrival at Islamabad International Airport, the team was welcomed by Pakistani officials and the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf Bin-Said Al-Malki. The Saudi team’s trip faced delays due to the subpar condition of Jinnah Stadium and the lack of adequate training facilities, postponing their departure to Islamabad to just one day before the match.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan football team has announced its squad for the upcoming qualifier, featuring 18-year-old striker McKeal Abdullah, who plays for Mansfield Town in the English Football League. Abdullah is expected to bring fresh energy to the Pakistani side. However, Blackburn Rovers U21 goalkeeper Adam Khan did not make the final squad. Returning to the team are star winger Otis Khan and left-back Mohammad Fazal. Unfortunately, captain and key defender Easah Suliman will miss the match as he is on the Hajj pilgrimage.
Pakistan, positioned at the bottom of Group G, has struggled throughout the qualifiers, losing all four of their matches so far. They suffered a 4-0 defeat to Saudi Arabia in Al-Ahsa last November, followed by a 6-1 loss to Tajikistan and consecutive defeats to Jordan, including a 7-0 loss in Amman. Following their 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 the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier:
Goalkeepers:
- Yousuf Butt (D)
- Saqib Hanif
- Hassan Ali
Defenders:
- Abdullah Iqbal (D)
- Mohammad 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
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