Pakistan soccer group pictured throughout the nationwide anthem forward of their Diamond Jubilee Worldwide Soccer Match match in opposition to Afghanistan on the Nationwide Soccer Stadium in Male on June 7, 2026. – Soccer Affiliation of Maldives
KARACHI: Pakistan booked their place within the remaining of the Diamond Jubilee Worldwide Soccer Match within the Maldives with a 2-0 victory over Afghanistan on Sunday, securing a second consecutive win and reaching their first senior males’s worldwide remaining in 35 years.
Objectives from Umar Nawaz and Harun Hamid guided Pakistan to victory of their remaining round-robin fixture of the four-nation event, making certain they completed among the many high two groups and superior to Wednesday’s title conflict.
The achievement marks Pakistan’s first look in a senior males’s worldwide remaining because the 1991 South Asian Federation Video games. It is usually the nation’s first look within the remaining of a stand-alone worldwide soccer event because the 1962 Merdeka Match, the place Pakistan completed runners-up after a 2-1 defeat to Indonesia.
Pakistan entered the match needing solely a draw to safe qualification following their 3-0 victory over hosts Maldives earlier within the event, a consequence that had ended a 961-day watch for a global win.
Nolberto Solano’s facet made the proper begin when Umar opened the scoring within the fifth minute. The striker met a low cross from Shayek Dost and calmly side-footed the ball into the online to present Pakistan an early lead.
The purpose allowed Pakistan to settle into the competition and dictate giant spells of play. Afghanistan, coached by former Pakistan head coach Jose Antonio Nogueira, struggled to create significant openings within the first half regardless of their urgency to remain in competition for a spot within the remaining.
Pakistan continued to threaten by means of the attacking trio of Umar, Shayek and Otis Khan, whereas Haris Zeb and Fazal supplied width from the flanks. Defender Easah Suliman got here near doubling the lead after being performed by means of by Otis Khan, however his effort from exterior the field sailed over the crossbar.
Afghanistan’s greatest probability of the opening half arrived in stoppage time when captain Omid Popalzay struck the woodwork from a free kick, permitting Pakistan to take a slender benefit into the interval.
Afghanistan pushed ahead after the restart in the hunt for an equaliser, however Pakistan remained harmful on the counterattack. On the hour mark, Shayek Dost’s intelligent go despatched Ali Agha by means of on purpose, just for the midfielder to tug his shot broad with the goalkeeper overwhelmed.
The Afghans additionally threatened by means of Omid Mosawi, whose header drifted broad of the goal, however clear-cut alternatives remained scarce as Pakistan’s protection held agency.
Pakistan finally sealed the lead to first-half damage time when substitute Harun Hamid latched onto a by means of ball from Adil Nabi and fired a robust shot into the online, sparking celebrations among the many Pakistani gamers and supporters.
The victory accomplished a powerful turnaround for Pakistan, who’ve received two of their three matches within the event after opening with a defeat. The group will now look to seize its first senior males’s worldwide remaining since 1991 South Asian Video games, the place it defeated the Maldives 2- 0. This win may also be Pakistan’s first standalone event title since sharing the Asian Quadrangular Soccer Match crown with India in 1952, which was performed on foundation of spherical robin league.
Pakistan will face both Bangladesh U23 or Afghanistan within the remaining on June 10, with the Inexperienced Shirts aiming to cap a memorable week within the Maldives by lifting the Diamond Jubilee Worldwide Soccer Match trophy.
