The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has officially confirmed the national team’s participation in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers and announced the reappointment of Stephen Constantine as head coach.
The decision comes just hours after FIFA lifted its international suspension on Pakistan. The qualifiers are scheduled to take place later this month.
In a statement issued on Monday, the PFF affirmed that Pakistan will compete in the Group E qualifiers alongside Syria, Afghanistan, and Myanmar.
The qualifiers will be played on a home-and-away basis as part of the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) pathway to the 2027 tournament.
Pakistan will kick off its AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifying campaign with an away match against Syria on March 25.
The match will be played in Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
Stephen Constantine, who previously served as the national team’s head coach from late 2023 until mid-2024 has been reappointed as the head coach for the match against Syria.
His return is expected to provide stability and guidance to the team as they aim to secure a spot in the prestigious tournament.
FIFA had banned Pakistan on February 6, marking the country’s third international suspension in less than eight years.
The global football governing body imposed the ban after the PFF rejected FIFA’s proposed electoral reforms, which were aimed at ensuring transparent governance in the federation.
Following the suspension, the PFF held an extraordinary meeting in Lahore last Thursday, where members unanimously approved FIFA’s constitutional amendments.
This decision led to FIFA reinstating Pakistan’s membership, clearing the way for the national squad’s participation in international competitions, including the crucial AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
