Pakistan’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers campaign suffered a severe blow following their heavy defeats against Jordan in the ongoing World Cup qualifiers. Across the two matches, Jordan dominated Pakistan, winning 7-0 at home and 0-3 in Islamabad. Pakistan was heavily dominated in both games and offered little to no resistance to Jordan’s excellent attacking.
Islamabad Game
The first encounter took place in Islamabad, Pakistan. Pakistan came into the game surrounding the controversy of Adil Nabi and Etzaz Hussain’s exclusion from the squad. Missing key players due to injury and suspensions, Pakistan struggled against Jordan’s offensive prowess. Pakistan’s struggles started very early as it conceded two early goals courtesy of an Al Tamari free kick and an Ali Olwan penalty.
Pakistan then showed signs of its defensive unity as it kept Jordan off the scoring charts till the 85th minute when Al Tamari rounded off the game with a cool finish.
The hero for Jordan was Mousa Tamari, who scored a brace while Yousaf Butt’s penalty save was the highlight of Pakistan’s evening in Islamabad.
Pakistan coach Stephen Constantine acknowledged Jordan’s strength leading up to the match, vowing that his team wouldn’t give up easily. However, with limited preparation time and injuries, Pakistan was unable to overcome a superior Jordanian side.
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The Encounter in Amman
World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: The second match, held in Amman, Jordan, further exposed the gulf in class between the two teams. Jordan’s Musa Al Tamari emerged as the star player with an impressive hat-trick in front of a houseful Amman crowd.
Yazeen Al Naimat added another goal from the penalty spot and Jordan’s dominance continued with further goals from Saeed Al Rawsan (52nd minute), Ali Alwan (75th minute), and Abu Mohammad (83rd minute). Pakistan, on the other hand, remained scoreless throughout both encounters.
Pakistan missed a few good chances in the start as it could not capitalise on the chances presented to them, particularly the Imran Kayani chance off a quick counterattack. However, Jordan didn’t take long to take a firm grip on the game with goals at regular intervals.
Pakistan dearly missed Abdullah Iqbal in Amman who missed the game due to suspension after he was booked in Islamabad for a penalty challenge. Star midfielder Alamgir Khan will also miss the Saudi game in June due to suspension after he was booked in the game in Amman.
Fareed Ullah Injury:
Pakistan’s star frontman Fareed Ullah was rushed off the field on a stretcher after he hurt his shoulder. Later on, it was revealed that Fareed Ullah suffered a broken collarbone and would require surgery. He will be out of action for quite a while for the National team.
Looking Forward with Challenges:
These crushing defeats highlight the significant challenges Pakistan faces in their World Cup qualifying journey. The lack of goals and a shaky defence expose areas needing immediate improvement. Stephen Constantine highlighted the absence of a league in his various press conferences and the absence of practice matches for Pakistan.
This two-match stint against Jordan serves as a harsh wake-up call for Pakistan. Learning from their mistakes and implementing a more effective strategy will be crucial in their quest for the remaining World Cup 2026 Qualifiers in June.
