AL AHSA: Pakistan football team were thrashed by a dominant Saudi Arabia team 4-0 during the first match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers at Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium.

Saudi Arabia’s Saleh Al-Shahri earned an early lead for the home team with a 6th-minute goal, however, the Pakistan team fought valiantly throughout the first half to not avoid further damage.

The home team dominated the second half from the start as Al-Shahri once again got his name on the scoresheet after converting a penalty in the 48th minute to extend the lead for his side.

Pakistan team showed a gutsy performance in the second half however Saudi Arabian team did not allow them to propel in the absence of the team’s defender and captain Eash Suliman.

Saudi Arabia scored two late goals to extend the margin of victory to 4-0 as Abdul Rahman Ghareeb netted in the 91st minute, followed by Abdullah Radif’s goal in the 96th minute.

This was the first time Pakistan played in the second round of FIFA World Cup qualifiers, after defeating Cambodia in the first round.

Pakistan last played against Saudi Arabia in 1978 at the latter’s home and suffered a 6-0 thrashing.

Besides Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, placed in Group G, will face Jordan and Tajikistan. Each team will take on the rest of the teams twice on the basis of home and away leg.

The top two teams from the qualifying round will progress to the third round, in which 18 teams will be divided into three groups.

Whereas, the bottom two sides will advance into the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers.

Pakistan’s next FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier is scheduled against Tajikistan in Islamabad on November 21.

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