Pakistan’s upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifier match against Afghanistan, scheduled for Thursday in Islamabad, is unlikely to take place.
According to media reports, the Afghan team failed to secure visas for all players and officials due to technical errors in their applications.
While Pakistan had completed all necessary preparations for the match at Islamabad’s Jinnah Stadium, the visiting side’s visa issues have put the fixture in jeopardy.
Reports indicate that only three Afghan players and ten officials have received Pakistani visas so far, while several players residing abroad are still awaiting approval.
The delay reportedly occurred because foreign-based Afghan footballers listed Afghanistan as their place of residence on visa forms, creating technical discrepancies.
Under tournament regulations, teams are required to obtain visas at least 30 days before participation in an international event.
The Pakistan Football Federation has informed the government and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) about the latest situation.
According to the rules, Pakistan could be awarded a walkover if the match is not held due to Afghanistan’s administrative mistakes.
However, later in the day, after PCB Chairman and Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi took notice of the issue, visas were issued to the Afghanistan football team. In a post on social media platform X, Naqvi confirmed that the visas for the Afghan team had been released, clearing the way for the match to take place.
Issued now . Thank you for highlighting it https://t.co/xV87768M5s
— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) October 8, 2025