Shafaqna Pakistan: Pakistan’s young footballers have once again missed out on the opportunity to compete in a major international tournament, drawing attention to the persistent lack of long-term planning within the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF).
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Thursday conducted the draw for the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers, with Pakistan notably absent from the list of participating nations.
A PFF spokesperson said the federation had decided not to enter the national U20 team in the qualifiers due to financial constraints. According to the spokesperson, the AFC had been informed of the decision in April.
However, concerns over Pakistan’s non-participation only came into the spotlight after the official draw was released and the country’s name was missing from the competition lineup.
The qualifiers for the AFC U20 Asian Cup are scheduled to take place in August-September this year, while the final tournament will be hosted by China in 2027.
This marks the third consecutive time Pakistan will miss participation in an AFC event at this age-group level, denying young footballers an important international platform to showcase and develop their talent.
The development has triggered criticism within football circles, where concerns are being raised over why the federation has failed to arrange even basic funding for youth national teams.
Pakistan football has endured years of administrative instability, FIFA suspensions, uncertainty and poor planning.
Although expectations had risen after elections were held last year, many believe the situation has yet to improve in any meaningful way.
source: Geo News
