The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) announced on Thursday its squad for the qualifiers of the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup 2026 Saudi Arabia, saying its footballers were ready to compete at the international level.
While the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 will be held in Saudi Arabia, the qualifier matches for Pakistan’s Group G teams will be held in Cambodia. The qualifiers will feature 44 sides each drawn into 11 groups, which will be contested from Sept. 1-9.
“Under the guidance of Head Coach Nolberto Solano, the squad features a mix of talented players ready to compete at the international level,” the PFF said in a press release.
The squad announcement brings excitement for Pakistan’s football fans, with a blend of promising talent and solid experience in key positions. The attacking line-up features McKeal Abdullah, Umair Bahader, Furqan Umer, Ali Raza, Suleman Ali, and Adeel Younas, who will shoulder the responsibility of finding the back of the net.
In midfield, Tufail Khan, Hayyaan Khattak, M. Junaid, Ali Zafar, and Adnan Justin have been entrusted with controlling possession and creating opportunities.
The defensive core includes Haseeb Khan, Mohib Ullah, M. Adeel, Ans Amin, M. Haroon, Hamza Munir, Ahmed Salman, Junaid Shah, and Abdul Rehman — a unit expected to provide resilience at the back.
Goalkeepers Adam Najeeb, Hassan Ali, and Umair Arooj complete the squad, giving the Green Shirts depth between the posts.
Pakistan’s training camp has been set up at the Jinnah Sports Complex in Islamabad, which the PFF said would continue for a few more days.
Pakistan will play their first match against Iraq on Sept. 3, followed by their second one against hosts Cambodia on Sept. 6. The Green Shirts play their final group stage match against Oman on Sept. 9.
