The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has officially confirmed that the national men’s football team will participate in the upcoming inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup.
Scheduled to take place in Indonesia this year from September to October, the tournament marks the first time the Pakistan men’s senior team will compete in an official FIFA-sanctioned event.
Following the national women’s football team’s historic participation in the FIFA Series earlier in March, the men’s national side—popularly known as the Shaheens—is set to make its official debut on the FIFA tournament stage in September.
This marks a monumental step forward, cementing 2026 as a landmark year for international football exposure across both men’s and women’s setups in Pakistan.
Speaking on the landmark development, PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani expressed profound gratitude and confidence in the team’s trajectory:
“After the national women’s football team participated in the FIFA series, the national men’s football team will now also participate in its first FIFA event, which is a historic milestone for Pakistan football.
This tournament will provide the national team with a great opportunity to play against strong opponents and showcase its skills at the international level.”
According to reports gathered by MM News, the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup will feature a total of 14 national teams:
- 11 Teams: Representing the Southeast Asian (ASEAN) region.
- 3 Guest Teams: Specially invited nations from outside the ASEAN region, including Pakistan.
Pakistan will take its place in the top tier of the competition, where the participating sides will be divided into two groups. The Shaheens are set to test their mettle against prominent footballing nations, including:
- India
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Indonesia (Hosts)
- Philippines
- Thailand
