ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s men’s football team is set to make its debut at the FIFA ASEAN Cup, to be held in Indonesia from 21 September to 6 October.

Pakistan are among the 14 teams taking part in the tournament and one of eight teams competing in Indonesia. The Shaheens are one of three invited teams, with the remaining 11 sides representing Southeast Asia.

Following the announcement, Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) President Syed Mohsen Gilani thanked FIFA President Gianni Infantino for the opportunity.

“The Pakistan Football Federation is extremely thankful to FIFA President Gianni Infantino for presenting us with the opportunity to participate in our second-ever FIFA event,” he said.

“After the women’s national team participated in the FIFA Series, it is now the turn of our men’s national team to take part in their maiden FIFA event when they feature at the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup.”

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“It is time to dream big. We are not content with playing in development competitions. Pakistan is ready to mix it with the big boys. Pakistan football has well and truly arrived at the global stage,” concluded Mr Gilani.

The FIFA ASEAN Cup aims to provide high-quality international football, strengthen regional connections and create new opportunities for fans to engage with the game.

The tournament will feature two tiers of competition. The top-tier FIFA ASEAN Cup, hosted by Indonesia, will include Pakistan, Malaysia, India, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

The second-tier FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup will feature hosts Hong Kong, China, along with Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste.

Teams will be allocated to groups based on the FIFA Men’s World Ranking to ensure competitive balance throughout the tournament.

Each competition will be divided into two groups, with teams playing each other once in a round-robin format. The group winners will advance to their respective finals to compete for the title, while the runners-up will face off in the third-place playoff.

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