ISLAMABAD — In a move aimed at restoring Pakistan’s presence in international soccer, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has given the green light to constitutional amendments suggested by FIFA. This decision came to light on Thursday during an extraordinary congress meeting, garnering a unanimous vote of 23-0 in favor of the amendments.
FIFA had previously imposed its third international suspension on Pakistan since the last eight years due to the federation’s rejection of electoral reforms. The significant meeting in Lahore was attended by representatives from both FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation, signaling a collaborative effort to bring Pakistan back onto the international soccer scene.
In a statement, the PFF expressed its commitment to the progression of football within the nation. “The congress members endorsed the FIFA proposed amendments in the best interest of Pakistan football, paving the way for the national team’s participation in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers following the expected lifting of FIFA’s suspension,” the statement read.
There is optimism within Pakistan that the suspension might be lifted just in time for their national team to face Syria on March 25, marking their first qualifying match for the 2027 Asian Cup. Nevertheless, the Asian Football Confederation has outlined that the ban needs to be lifted by the coming Tuesday to allow this participation.
