FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, Harun Hamid Khan’s 68th-minute goal was the difference in a dramatic match at Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad, delivering a 1-0 victory over Cambodia.
Harun Hamid's superb finish against Cambodia to win Pakistan its first ever WCQ.#PakistanFootballpic.twitter.com/vXElljx6D4
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) October 17, 2023
This huge victory advances Pakistan to the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which is an exciting step ahead for football fans in the country.
With the win, the Pakistan move to Group G, the second round of qualifying with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Tajikistan.
The first leg of the match in Cambodia resulted goalless draw, setting the stage for the tense duel in Islamabad.
This triumph not only represents a tremendous sporting accomplishment, but it also symbolizes the resurgence of international football in Pakistan.
The country, which has always been more interested in cricket, saw the return of international football after an eight-year absence.
Pakistan’s last home game was in February 2015, when they defeated Afghanistan 2-1 in Lahore.
Pakistan played two successive World Cup qualifying campaigns at neutral stadiums due to security concerns and administrative chaos.
Due to security concerns in Lahore, the first-round qualifier for the 2018 tournament versus Yemen shifted to Bahrain.
Similarly, because to internal concerns within the Pakistan Football Federation, the home leg of the 2022 edition match against Cambodia was transferred to Doha. Cambodia eventually won the match with a 4-1 aggregate score.
Murtaza Solangi, the interim Information Minister, congratulated both teams upon the match’s conclusion.
He called the game a “victory for football” and praised Cambodia and Pakistan for their sportsmanship.
Solangi highlighted football’s worldwide appeal as a sport loved by people all throughout Pakistan and criticized the intrusion of politics into the world of sports.
نگران وفاقی وزیر اطلاعات مرتضیٰ سولنگی کی پاکستان اور کمبوڈیا کے درمیان فیفا ورلڈ کپ 2026ءکے لئے کوالیفائر فٹ بال میچ کے بعد میڈیا سے گفتگو
— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) October 17, 2023
فیفا ورلڈ کپ کوالیفائرز میں پاکستان کی پہلی جیت پر پاکستانی قوم، فٹ بال کے شائقین اور فٹ بال ٹیم کو مبارکباد پیش کرتا ہوں، مرتضیٰ سولنگی… pic.twitter.com/GFLmxmhdZK
As well as marking a watershed moment in Pakistani football history, this victory also offers hope for the sport’s future.
In the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Pakistanis can expect more spectacular matches and a sense of national pride.
