Pakistan announce final squad for FIFA World Cup Qualifier matches against Jordan

Pakistan football coach Stephen Constantine (c) speaks with the national team during practice sessions in Lahore on March 12, 2024, ahead of match against Jordan next week in Islamabad. Photo courtesy: PFF)

• Pakistan face Jordan in Islamabad on Thursday in FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier Round 2 fixture
• In October, Pakistan beat Cambodia 1-0 to win their first ever FIFA World Cup Qualifier in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) announced the final national men’s squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier Round 2 matches against Jordan on Thursday, with diaspora players set to join the team from Monday.
Pakistan will lock horns with Jordan at the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad on Mar. 21 followed by an away fixture in Jordan on Mar. 26.
In October 2023, the Pakistan men’s football team beat Cambodia 1-0 to win their first ever FIFA World Cup qualifier in Islamabad. Pakistan subsequently lost 4-0 to Saudi Arabia in the second round.
“The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) named a final squad for the forthcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier Round 2 matches against Jordan, scheduled to be held at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad on 21st March followed by an away game in Jordan on 26 March,” the PFF said in a statement.
It said the week-long camp for the Jordan fixtures will be relocated from Lahore to Islamabad on Sunday.
A total of 36 teams, grouped into nine groups of four teams each, are competing to progress through to the third round of the qualifiers.
The top two from each group from the second round will head into the third round, where 18 nations will be split into three groups of six. From there, the top two of each group will secure their spot at FIFA World Cup 26.
Pakistan men’s football team coach Stephen Constantine on Saturday acknowledged that Jordan was one of the best sides in Asia but vowed Pakistan would not “lay down” in front of their opponents.
“We have very little time to prepare for such a big game. And unfortunately, we are going to play one of the best teams [Jordan] in Asia on 21st March,” Constantine said.
“We will fight against Jordan and not lay down.”
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Yousuf Butt (D), Saqib Hanif, Abdul Basit and Hassan Ali
Defenders: Easah Suliman (D), Abdullah Iqbal (D), Mamoon Musa, Haseeb Khan, Mohammad Saddam, Mohammad Sohail, Omer Rao, Mohammad Fazal (D) and Mohammad Adeel
Midfielders: Rahis Nabi (D), Harun Hamid (D), Alamgir Ghazi, Rajab Ali, Ali Uzair, Shayek Dost and Abdul Samad (D)
Forwards: FareedUllah, Waleed Khan, Imran Kayani (D) and Adeel Younis