ISLAMABAD: The first squad of the Afghanistan men&#39;s football team arrived in the federal capital on Wednesday evening for their AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers match against Pakistan, following visa difficulties.

Tomorrow&#39;s match between Pakistan and Afghanistan will take place at Islamabad&#39;s Jinnah Football Stadium.

Previously, the highly anticipated match was about to be postponed due to visa complications affecting numerous players.

Mohsen Gillani, head of the Pakistan Football Federation, spoke out against the difficulties the day before.

&ldquo;The players and officials who were in Afghanistan have obtained their visas to travel to Pakistan, but those living abroad had to go to Afghanistan to get the required clearance,&rdquo; Mohsen said.

&ldquo;That process is mandatory as per the Afghanistan Football Federation&rsquo;s decision of nominating the Pakistan Embassy in Kabul to issue the visas.&rdquo;

However, after the problem was raised, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi took note and granted the team special permission to visit Pakistan.

&ldquo;Issued now,&rdquo; Mohsin Naqvi wrote in response to journalist Faizan Lakhani&rsquo;s post, &ldquo;Thank you for highlighting it,&rdquo; Naqvi added.

Asia Cup Qualifiers: Afghanistan men’s football team arrives in Islamabad after visa issues were resolved ahead of their match against Pakistan at Jinnah Stadium.

Afghanistan Team Arrives in Pakistan for Asia Cup Qualifiers

The stage is set for Pakistan&rsquo;s big football match at Jinnah Stadium. Fans are ready to roar, players are ready to fight, and the moment is meant to signal Pakistan&rsquo;s return to the Asian stage. After days of confusion, the drama has finally settled.

A sudden visa snag had earlier thrown the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier between Pakistan and Afghanistan into doubt. The match, scheduled for Thursday, is now confirmed to go ahead on time as Afghanistan&rsquo;s overseas players have received travel clearance.

Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) president Mohsen Gilani confirmed the update, saying that all necessary documentation was finalized after coordination between both football federations and the AFC. The players and officials have now obtained their visas. Both teams are ready, and the match will be played as planned.

<h3>Match Details</h3>

Date: October 9, 2025 
Venue: Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad 
Kickoff Time: 2:00 AM (local time) 
Broadcast: Live on tapmad

<h2>Blame Game Between Football Federations</h2>

The situation had earlier turned into a blame exchange between the two football bodies. The Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) claimed it sent its initial player list to the Pakistan Embassy on September 18 and followed up several times without result.

On the other hand, the PFF insisted it received the final list only on September 27, just 11 days before the scheduled match. According to AFC regulations, all teams must complete visa procedures at least 30 days prior to their fixture.

Afghan officials stated that most of their squad members are based in Europe, United States, Canada, Australia, and Asia. They were supposed to fly to Islamabad from Dubai, but the visa delay disrupted their travel schedule. With visas now cleared, the Afghan team is set to reach Pakistan with limited practice time before kickoff.

<h2>AFC Confirms Match to Proceed</h2>

The PFF had earlier informed the Asian Football Confederation that Pakistan was not at fault for the delay. The AFC&rsquo;s competitions department has since reviewed all reports and allowed the match to proceed as planned.

Mohsen Gilani clarified that Afghan dual nationals could visit Pakistan on regular visas, but AFC tournament rules prevented them from participating on that basis. This issue has now been resolved under the official clearance and the Afghan team will arrive soon.

Pakistan has completed its training sessions at Jinnah Stadium and will host the game as scheduled.

Both Pakistan and Afghanistan are yet to open their accounts. Their match in Islamabad will provide one of them a much-needed breakthrough in Group E.

<h2>Fans Finally Get Their Moment</h2>

For Pakistani supporters, this match carries special meaning. It&rsquo;s a chance to see their team play a competitive fixture at home again. Social media is overwhelmed, and excitement has returned to Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

After waiting through days of uncertainty, fans can now turn their focus back to football, ready to fill the stands and support their side. The emotional weight of this fixture remains strong. Pakistan has spent years rebuilding its football structure after FIFA suspensions and internal conflicts. A successful home qualifier could be the statement the sport needs.

<h3>Group E</h3>

<table cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse; width:452px">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:77px">
			Position
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:98px">
			Team
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:40px">
			Pld
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:22px">
			W
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:22px">
			D
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:26px">
			L
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:37px">
			GF
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:39px">
			GA
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:39px">
			GD
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:52px">
			Pts
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:77px">
			1
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:98px">
			Syria
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:40px">
			2
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:22px">
			2
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:22px">
			0
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:26px">
			0
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:37px">
			3
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:39px">
			0
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:39px">
			+3
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:52px">
			6
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:77px">
			2
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:98px">
			Myanmar
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:40px">
			2
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:22px">
			2
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:22px">
			0
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:26px">
			0
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:37px">
			3
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:39px">
			1
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:39px">
			+2
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:52px">
			6
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:77px">
			3
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:98px">
			Afghanistan
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:40px">
			2
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:22px">
			0
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:22px">
			0
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:26px">
			2
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:37px">
			1
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:39px">
			3
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:39px">
			&minus;2
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:52px">
			0
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:77px">
			4
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:98px">
			Pakistan
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:40px">
			2
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:22px">
			0
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:22px">
			0
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:26px">
			2
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:37px">
			0
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:39px">
			3
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:39px">
			&minus;3
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align:top; width:52px">
			0
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

<h2>What Happens Next</h2>

With the visa issue resolved, Pakistan will host Afghanistan as planned. Both teams would work hard to stay alive in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier race for a spot in Saudi Arabia.

The stakes are huge. A win here would lift morale for either side. For Pakistan, it would be proof that their rebuilding efforts are finally paying off. For Afghanistan, it would show resilience under pressure.

Fans can catch every moment live on <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/afc-asian-qualifiers-pakistan-matches/1709-5-0">tapmad</a>. The platform has been announced as the official broadcaster in Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Pakistan. From Asian Cup qualifiers to regional friendlies, all official matches of the AFC Asian Cup will be streamed exclusively on the platform, giving fans across the regions easy access to live football.

After days of uncertainty, Pakistan’s Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Afghanistan is now confirmed to go ahead at Jinnah Stadium. Fans can catch it live on tapmad.

Pakistan vs Afghanistan AFC Asian Cup Qualifier 2027 Has Been Confirmed as Scheduled

Football fans now have a single destination to watch Pakistan&rsquo;s quest for the AFC Asian Cup exclusively on tapmad, the country&rsquo;s leading OTT platform.

Through its acquisition of the exclusive digital rights for Pakistan&rsquo;s home fixtures in the AFC Asian Qualifiers, tapmad will stream the matches live across Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

Supporters can follow every moment as Pakistan faces Afghanistan, Syria, and Myanmar in its pursuit of regional glory.

As one of Asia&rsquo;s most anticipated tournaments, the AFC Asian Qualifiers unite top national teams in a battle for a coveted place on the continental stage.

With this development, tapmad further strengthens its reputation as the premier hub for live sports streaming in Pakistan.

Commenting on the announcement, COO Aly Rana said: 
&ldquo;We are proud to bring Pakistan&rsquo;s AFC Asian Qualifiers campaign to millions of passionate football fans. Over the years, tapmad has consistently supported sports that needed more visibility, from hockey in the past to football today. Our mission is to make premium sports content accessible and affordable while contributing to the growth of Pakistan&rsquo;s sports culture.&rdquo;

Building on this vision, tapmad&rsquo;s commitment extends well beyond mainstream entertainment.

By providing a platform for sports that often receive less attention, it not only amplifies their visibility but also supports the development of a stronger sports ecosystem in Pakistan.

From highlighting hockey in the past to now championing football, the platform continues to broaden its catalog, bringing together live sports and a rich library of on demand content.

With this variety and accessibility, tapmad reaffirms its position as Pakistan&rsquo;s ultimate streaming destination.

Fans can download the tapmad app from the Google Play Store or iOS App Store, or simply visit <a href="http://www.tapmad.com" target="_new">www.tapmad.com</a> to start streaming.

Stream Pakistan matches in AFC Asian Qualifiers on tapmad.

Watch AFC Asian Qualifiers Pakistan Matches on tapmad

https://d34080pnh6e62j.cloudfront.net/images/contentCategorythumb/1761031353_1600x2130.jpg

AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers

AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers

Blogs