“PFF Thankful to FIFA President,” Says Gilani as Pakistan's Football Team Is Set for ASEAN Cup Debut

The Pakistan football team is to make FIFA event debut later this year after being confirmed among the participants for the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup, with the men's side set to compete during the September-October international window in Indonesia.

The tournament will mark the first FIFA event appearance for Pakistan's men's national team and comes after the country's women's side featured in the FIFA Series earlier this year. The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) sees the competition as another opportunity to increase international exposure for its national teams.

Pakistan will compete in the top division of the tournament, which will feature eight teams. Hosts Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines are among the confirmed participants, while Pakistan are one of only three invited nations from outside Southeast Asia.

The FIFA ASEAN Cup will bring together 14 teams across two divisions. Indonesia will host the premier competition, while the second-tier FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup will be held in Hong Kong, China, with Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Timor-Leste taking part.

The competition will be played over a 16-day FIFA international window. Teams will be divided into groups according to the FIFA Men's World Ranking, with each side playing a single round-robin schedule. The group winners will qualify for the final, while the runners-up will compete in the third-place playoff.

PFF president Syed Mohsen Gilani welcomed Pakistan's inclusion and said the tournament would provide the men's team with valuable experience against stronger opposition.

"The Pakistan Football Federation is extremely thankful to FIFA President Gianni Infantino for presenting us with the opportunity to participate in our second-ever FIFA event," Gilani said.

"After the women's national team participated in the FIFA Series, it is now the turn of our men's national team to take part in their maiden FIFA event when they feature at the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup."

Gilani added that the tournament would help Pakistan move beyond development-level competitions and face higher-ranked teams.

"The FIFA ASEAN Cup represents a huge opportunity for our men's team to play high-profile competitive matches against some of the top teams in Southeast Asia during the extended international window," he said.

"It is time to dream big. We are not content with playing in development competitions. Pakistan is ready to mix it with the big boys. Pakistan football has well and truly arrived on the global stage."