Pakistan faced a significant setback with a challenging 1-6 defeat against Tajikistan in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match took place today at Jinnah Stadium, casting a disappointing shadow over the Pakistani team.
Tajikistan took an early lead with Kamolov’s goal in the 9th minute, showcasing their prowess. Soirov extended their advantage with a remarkable goal in the 14th minute.
Despite a commendable left-footed goal from Rahis Nabi in the 21st minute, Pakistan found themselves trailing again as Umerbaev scored a spectacular outside-the-box goal in the 26th minute.
The second half saw Tajikistan’s continued dominance, with Pandzsanbe securing the fourth goal by skillfully navigating from the left wing.
Kamalov added another impressive goal from outside the box in the 65th minute, further widening the gap. Pakistan conceded one more goal in the dying moments of the match, capping off a challenging encounter.
This defeat marks Pakistan’s second consecutive setback, following their initial loss to Saudi Arabia in the second round opener last week.
Notably, Pakistan had reached the second round for the first time, breaking a 13-match losing streak dating back to 2018 with a decisive 1-0 victory against Cambodia in the World Cup qualifiers last month. Despite the recent challenges, the team remains determined to bounce back in upcoming matches.
