In a historic achievement for Pakistan’s national soccer team, they secured their first-ever victory in a World Cup qualifying game. The success came on Tuesday as they defeated Cambodia 1-0 in Islamabad, propelling them to the second round of qualifiers.
The first leg of the matchup, held in Phnom Penh, had concluded in a goalless draw. However, during the momentous home game for Pakistan at the Jinnah Sports Stadium, Harun Hamid’s half-volley found the back of the net, ensuring their hard-fought victory. This victory is not only Pakistan’s first World Cup qualifying win since 2018 but also marks their inaugural home game since 2015.
With a FIFA ranking of 197th, Pakistan’s national team has come a long way to secure this historic win. In the next round of qualifiers, Pakistan will face tough competition against teams like Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Jordan, with the matches scheduled to kick off in November.
It’s worth noting that Pakistan’s soccer journey faced significant challenges, as the team was banned by FIFA in April 2021 for a period of 15 months due to “undue third-party interference.” This marked the second ban imposed on Pakistan within four years, making their recent victory even more remarkable.
Pakistan’s remarkable achievement places them in the second stage of qualifiers, where they will be joined by nine other teams. The selection process involves two-leg, home-and-away series for the Asian Football Confederation’s 20 lowest-ranked teams.
In other notable results from the qualifiers, Singapore emerged victorious over Guam with a 3-1 aggregate score, following a 1-0 win on Tuesday. Afghanistan also secured their place in the next round by defeating Mongolia 1-0, advancing with a 2-0 overall score.
Additionally, Yemen, despite a 1-1 draw against Asia’s lowest-ranked team, Sri Lanka (ranked 202nd), managed to progress with a convincing 4-1 aggregate score based on their performance in the home leg.
This historic victory by Pakistan signals a new era for soccer in the country and will undoubtedly serve as a source of inspiration for aspiring young players and fans alike.
