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- The Jordanian football team last visited Pakistan in 2006 and will play in the country after 18 years
- Pakistan’s coach recently acknowledged Jordan to be one of the strongest football sides in Asia
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Jordan are scheduled to play their FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match today, Thursday, after the visiting team from the Middle East arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday night to compete with their hosts.
Last October, 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 Pakistani players will now lock horns with Jordan at the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad on Mar. 21 followed by an away fixture in Jordan on Mar. 26.
“After 18 years, the Jordanian football team will play on Pakistani soil,” the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) said in a statement following the team’s arrival in Islamabad. “Their last visit to Pakistan was in 2006.”
Pakistan men’s football team coach Stephen Constantine acknowledged last week 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,” he said. “And unfortunately, we are going to play one of the best teams [Jordan] in Asia on 21st March ... We will fight against Jordan and not lay down.”