Pakistan will compete in the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup in Indonesia from September 21 to October 6, in what will be the team’s first appearance in a FIFA tournament outside qualifiers.
Pakistan are set to face India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand in the event.
The tournament comes days after Pakistan won the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament in Maldives, where they beat Afghanistan 2-0 in the final. Pakistan also defeated Afghanistan in the group stage and remained unbeaten in the four-team competition, which also included Maldives and Bangladesh.
That title was Pakistan’s first standalone international football trophy since 1952 and their first senior men’s international final win since 1991.
Pakistan’s inclusion in the FIFA ASEAN Cup is being seen as another major development for the national side, which has returned to regular international action after a long period of disruption.
It is also being linked to improving ties between FIFA and PFF President Mohsen Gillani, with reports saying those connections helped Pakistan secure the invitation.
