The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) sparked controversy on social media by suggesting a neutral venue for Pakistan’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Jordan on March 21 due to concerns about Islamabad’s Jinnah Stadium meeting FIFA standards. However, the PFF Normalisation Committee hinted at a possible U-turn with the match still slated to be played at the same venue.
“The match can still be played in Islamabad.” PFF NC spokesperson told Dawn.
The initial thread on social media cited challenges with Jinnah Stadium’s lighting conditions, crucial for a night game during Ramadan, and explored alternative options, proposing discussions with the Jordan Football Association for a neutral venue.
This development prompted a backlash, with the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) sharing a letter dated January 19 assuring the PFF that Jinnah Stadium would be ready for the World Cup qualifier. PSB Director-General Shoaib Khosa emphasized, “The lights and seats will be installed well before the match as per required standards.”
Despite the PSB’s assurances, the PFF Normalisation Committee claimed it wasn’t aware of a January 21 deadline set by FIFA or the Asian Football Federation, stating, “We only saw the letter had been sent to us after seeing it on social media.”
In the midst of this, the PFF Normalisation Committee’s relationship with the government surfaced, revealing that Minister Fawad Hasan Fawad wrote to FIFA, urging the Haroon Malik-led committee to expedite PFF elections. Fawad stated, “I have written to FIFA […] we want the election process to begin as soon as possible.”
As tensions unfolded, the PSB DG affirmed their commitment to completing the necessary stadium preparations, asserting, “We are sure that we will complete the work that needs to be done in time for the game.” FIFA and the Asian Football Federation had not immediately responded to queries regarding the alleged January 21 deadline. The situation remains dynamic, with uncertainty lingering over the venue for the crucial World Cup qualifier.
