Pakistan is a country with a population of around 240 million and a long history in world football: the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) was founded on 5 December 1947, joined FIFA in 1948, and became one of the founding members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 1954. Despite this historical background, the men’s national team currently ranks 199th out of 211 in the FIFA rankings — and the question of why this is the case and what might change the situation remains a pressing one.
Three Suspensions in Eight Years
The main reason for the failure is not a lack of talent, but systemic management failures. The PFF has been suspended from international activities by FIFA on three occasions: in 2017 due to third-party interference in the federation’s internal affairs, and in 2021 after a group of former officials seized the headquarters, which was under the control of FIFA’s Normalisation Committee. The most recent suspension took place on 6 February 2025 — the PFF had failed to adopt amendments to its constitution that would have ensured fair and democratic elections. Each such suspension resulted in the freezing of funding, the suspension of international matches and a drop in the rankings.
On 2 March 2025, FIFA lifted the ban — after the PFF Congress unanimously adopted constitutional amendments agreed with FIFA and the AFC. FIFA General Secretary Mattias Grafström confirmed: “The suspension of the PFF is lifted with immediate effect. All PFF membership rights have been restored.” A few days before this decision, Pakistan’s participation in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers hung in the balance.
First World Cup Qualifying Win and What Next
Amidst the chronic crisis, there has been a real breakthrough. In October 2023, under the guidance of coach Stephen Constantine, the Pakistan national team secured its first-ever victory in a World Cup qualifying campaign — a 1-0 win over Cambodia in Islamabad. The goal was scored by Harun Hamid. It was their first home win after an eight-year hiatus. Following the two-legged tie, Pakistan progressed to the second round of qualifying – also a first in their history. However, in a group featuring Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Tajikistan, the team lost all their matches, finishing 193rd in the rankings – the worst performance of all the participants. Nevertheless, these events have already drawn fans’ attention to their team, as evidenced, for example, by the surge in activity among Mel bet Pakistan punters on the website https://melbetpakistan.com.pk/en/.
It is noteworthy that under Konstantin, around 80% of call-ups were for young players. Players such as Isa Suliman and Rahis Nabi have strengthened the squad. The coach stated publicly that, given sufficient time, understanding and support, Pakistan is capable of climbing the Asian rankings — bearing in mind the country’s population of 240 million. Following the lifting of another FIFA ban in March 2025, Konstantin was reappointed, but subsequently left the post — Pakistan found itself once again in search of a head coach.
Infrastructure: The Only Functioning Stadium
One of the most pressing problems is the complete lack of proper infrastructure. According to PFF President Seid Mohsen Gilani, the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad is effectively the only major venue suitable for international matches, but even this does not meet AFC standards and requires significant investment. The Punjab Stadium is in a state of disrepair.
In early 2026, the PFF shifted its focus to attracting international resources rather than relying on the state. Concrete steps have already been taken:
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Two mini-pitch facilities, funded by FIFA, have arrived in Pakistan — they will be installed in Islamabad and Lahore;
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The AFC will provide two further training pitches;
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The PFF is pushing for FIFA to build the country’s first dedicated football stadium.
Without modern facilities, hosting international matches remains extremely difficult, Gilani admits.
As part of the ‘Football in Schools’ programme, over a thousand balls are being distributed across the country, and a search for talent is underway at school level. In parallel, the PFF is collaborating with UN Youth and the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme.
Women’s Football: The Most Notable Progress
In contrast to the men’s team, the women’s national side is showing real upward momentum. As of August 2025, it was ranked 154th in the FIFA rankings with 1,007 points — having surpassed the 1,000-point mark for the first time. This was preceded by participation in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers in Indonesia: victories over Indonesia (2–0) and Kyrgyzstan (2–1), alongside a 0–8 defeat to Chinese Taipei.
An important structural milestone: coach Adil Rizki obtained his UEFA A licence in 2024 — the first in the history of Pakistani football. Women’s clubs in the country began to form in 2002, and the National Women’s Championship has been held since 2005. The PFF has also announced the creation of a women’s league as part of plans to develop domestic football modelled on the PSL.
Outlook: What Will Change and What Won’t
In June 2025, FIFA President Gianni Infantino personally pledged his support for the revival of Pakistani football. FIFA provides the PFF with approximately $1.25 million annually as part of the Forward 3.0 programme (2023–2026). These are significant resources, but their effectiveness depends largely on the federation’s ability to maintain stable governance — something Pakistan has failed to achieve for decades.
In 2025, the national team climbed from 201st to 199th in the FIFA rankings — modest progress, but notable in that it occurred even without matches during the September international window. The PFF has launched the All-Pakistan District Championships (APDC) to reach clubs and academies across the country.
Pakistani football is a story of potential that is constantly being held back by administrative decisions. There are fans, there is a passion for the game, and FIFA is ready to invest. The question is whether the PFF can finally provide the political stability without which no external resources will yield results.