Pakistan’s participation in the final round of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers remains in jeopardy following FIFA’s suspension of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF).
The suspension was imposed after the PFF Congress refused to approve FIFA and Asian Football Confederation (AFC)-recommended constitutional amendments, leading to the loss of all membership rights. Consequently, Pakistani football teams and officials are now barred from international competitions until the ban is lifted.
Deadline for Reinstatement
Pakistan has been placed in Group E of the Asian Cup qualifiers alongside Syria, Myanmar, and Afghanistan, with their first match scheduled for March 25. However, the AFC has set a deadline of March 4 for the suspension to be lifted. Failure to meet this deadline will result in Pakistan’s automatic withdrawal from the tournament.
In an official letter to the PFF Normalisation Committee (NC), the AFC emphasized the urgency of resolving the issue, stating:
“To ensure adequate preparation for the first match on March 25, 2025, Pakistan’s men’s national team will be considered withdrawn if the suspension is not lifted by March 4, 2025.”
Adding to the challenges, Pakistan’s women’s national team has already withdrawn from the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers, which are set to begin in late June.
FIFA Extends PFF Normalisation Committee’s Mandate
Meanwhile, FIFA has extended the mandate of the PFF Normalisation Committee until July 31, 2025.
Additionally, Saud Azim Hashimi has been appointed as the new chairman of the committee, effective February 16, 2025, following the conclusion of Haroon Malik’s tenure on February 15. Other committee members, Muhammad Shahid Niaz Khokhar and Haris Azmat, will continue in their roles.
With uncertainty surrounding Pakistan’s football future, all eyes are on whether the PFF can resolve its issues before the looming AFC deadline.
