Pakistan face a tough test in the qualifier against Tajikistan

KARACHI:

Pakistan will take on Tajikistan in the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at the Jinnah Stadium on Tuesday.

This will be Pakistan’s second match in the second round after playing Saudi Arabia in the away match on November 16, where they lost 4-0 after a strong team effort.

The second round of the World Cup qualifiers also serves as the qualifier for the Asia Cup and Pakistan coach Stephen Constantine was clear about his expectations from a team that braved Cambodia in the first round and then Saudi Arabia Arabia by Roberto Mancini. Arabia.

Konstantinos believes the country will focus on qualifying for the Asian Cup, but the World Cup qualifiers will help build the squad.

Pakistan have faced Tajikistan twice in the past

Former Pakistan national team midfielder Muhammad Adil said that it will be a closer event with Tajikistan.

“I feel if we go with the same spirit we showed against Saudi Arabia, we can even win this match,” Adil told The Express Tribune.

“We can lose too, it will be 50/50 but not by a big margin.

We have to keep in mind that Tajikistan has a sports culture that supports football, football at the club level is also very competitive. It’s a good team.”

The Green Shirts made history in October when they won their first World Cup qualifier. They beat Cambodia 1-0 on aggregate, playing out a goalless draw in the away leg before winning the home leg thanks to Harun Hamid’s winner.

Constantine and Tajikistan coach Petar Šegrt held press conferences in Islamabad on Monday while the teams had their training sessions.

As for the crowd, Adil predicts a bigger crowd than those who came to watch the Cambodia match.

“I think there will be more people in the stadium than what we saw against Cambodia. I know many who travel from all over the country just to watch this match,” he said.

The former FC Dordoi player added that the Pakistan Football Federation Regulation Committee is helping the Pakistan team a lot.

“NC is taking great steps to ensure that Pakistan play international matches and we are playing them well. I believe they will have friendlies before the next match which is in March,” said Adil.