The Pakistan football team has been officially ruled out of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers due to a FIFA suspension imposed on the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF). This is the third time FIFA has suspended the PFF. Moreover, it also cites ongoing political interference and failure to adhere to PFF constitutional requirements.
Pakistan football team has been officially ruled out of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 qualifiers due to FIFA’s suspension of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF). The suspension, which took effect on February 6, 2025. It has stripped PFF of its membership rights, barring Pakistan from participating in international competitions.
In an official statement, PFF confirmed its exclusion from the tournament. It states, “The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) regrets to inform the football fraternity that the national team will be unable to participate in the final round of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers.”
AFC’s Deadline for Suspension Lifted
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had set a strict deadline for Pakistan’s participation. According to AFC, if FIFA’s suspension on PFF was not lifted by March 4, Pakistan’s men’s team would be withdrawn from the qualifiers. The tournament’s first match was scheduled for March 25 against Syria. However, Pakistan was placed in Group E alongside Syria, Myanmar, and Afghanistan.
A letter from AFC to the PFF Normalisation Committee (NC) highlighted the urgency of resolving the issue. It also states that necessary competition requirements must be met by March 4. Failure to do so would automatically remove Pakistan from the qualifiers.
FIFA Extends Mandate of PFF Normalisation Committee
In a separate development, FIFA has extended the mandate of the PFF Normalisation Committee until July 31, 2025. This committee is responsible for managing PFF’s affairs and ensuring compliance with FIFA regulations.
Saud Azim Hashimi, a current member of the FIFA-appointed committee, has been named the new chairman, effective February 16, 2025. He will replace Haroon Malik, whose tenure ends on February 15. The other two committee members, Muhammad Shahid Niaz Khokhar and Haris Azmat will continue in their roles.
Pakistan Football Team And Crisis Deepens
Pakistan’s footballing future remains uncertain as the FIFA suspension continues. The Pakistan women’s national football team has already pulled out of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers. With the AFC deadline looming, PFF now faces immense pressure to resolve governance issues and regain FIFA’s recognition before further international setbacks occur.
