In a series of meetings aimed at fostering sporting diplomacy, Haroon Malik, the Chairman of the Normalization Committee (NC) of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), recently met with the Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf Bin Said Al Malki. The primary objective of the meeting was to enhance the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Prior to this, the PFF President engaged with the Denmark Ambassador to Pakistan, Jakob Linulf, in an effort to establish robust connections between the footballing communities of the two nations. The discussions also focused on exploring the possibility of integrating overseas Pakistani players based in Denmark into the national football team.
Despite the diplomatic efforts, the PFF has faced criticism following the announcement on their social media platforms that Pakistan would not be able to host Jordan in the upcoming World Cup qualifier match scheduled for March 21. In response to the challenges, Haroon Malik stated that the federation is actively seeking a neutral venue for the match. He emphasized ongoing communication with FIFA, AFC, and Jordan’s Football Association to request an extension of the venue submission deadline, which was originally set for January 21.
Meanwhile, Jordan’s football team demonstrated a remarkable performance by defeating Iraq 3-2, securing a place in the quarterfinals of the AFC Asian Cup for the third time in their history. The team’s recent success adds an additional layer of anticipation and challenge for Pakistan as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup qualifier.
Notably, Pakistan faced a significant setback in their previous encounter with Saudi Arabia, suffering a 4-0 defeat in their Group G tie of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers Round 2 on November 16. The upcoming match against Saudi Arabia, scheduled for June 6, is expected to be hosted by Pakistan at Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad.
As the PFF navigates through the complexities of venue arrangements and international relations, the football community eagerly awaits updates on the unfolding developments, hoping for positive outcomes that will contribute to the growth and prosperity of football in Pakistan.