Pakistan has officially withdrawn from the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers, which were scheduled to take place next month in Indonesia. Sources have confirmed that the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) decided to pull out due to financial difficulties, unable to secure the necessary funds to participate.
Group B Matches Exclude Pakistan
The Group B matches, which Pakistan was supposed to be part of, were set to take place in Indonesia from January 15th. The withdrawal removes Pakistan from the official tournament draw, leaving them out of matches against the following opponent.
| Group B | Teams |
|---|---|
| B1 | Indonesia (H) |
| B2 | Hong Kong, China |
| B3 | Pakistan |
| B4 | India |
| B5 | Kyrgyz Republic |
This withdrawal from the Women’s Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers marks another significant setback for the Pakistan Women’s Futsal team, which had been preparing for its first-ever participation in the prestigious AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup 2025. In June 2024, the PFF announced the team’s entry into the tournament. However, the financial constraints have robbed the players of the opportunity to compete at such a high level.
The PFF had made a formal request to FIFA for financial assistance to help cover the costs of participation. However, according to sources, FIFA has yet to respond, leaving the federation without the necessary resources to proceed.
The financial struggles of the PFF are also casting doubt on Pakistan’s participation in the AFC Men’s Asian Cup qualifying rounds. If the necessary funding is not secured by January 20, sources have indicated that the men’s team could face similar challenges in competing in the qualifiers, which are set to begin in March 2025.
