Pakistan's national football team suffered a resounding 3-0 defeat against Saudi Arabia in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian qualifiers held at the Jinnah Stadium on Thursday.
The loss further cemented Pakistan's position at the bottom of Group G, having lost all five of their matches in the qualifiers so far.
Saudi Arabia's Early Dominance
Saudi Arabia established their dominance early in the match, with Nasser Al-Buraikan showcasing his striking prowess. He netted his first goal in the 26th minute, swiftly followed by another at the 41st minute, giving Saudi Arabia a commanding lead before the halftime whistle.
The Pakistani defense struggled to contain the relentless Saudi attacks, with Al-Buraikan's clinical finishing underscoring the visitors' superiority.
The second half saw Pakistan attempting to regroup and mount a comeback. However, their efforts were thwarted when Musab Fahd Al-Juwayr scored the third goal for Saudi Arabia in the 59th minute.
Al-Juwayr's precise strike effectively sealed the victory for the visitors, leaving Pakistan with little hope of recovering from the three-goal deficit.
Pakistan's struggles in Group G
This defeat adds to a series of heavy losses for Pakistan in the qualifiers. Their campaign began with a 4-0 defeat by Saudi Arabia in Al-Ahsa last November, followed by a crushing 6-1 loss to Tajikistan in Islamabad.
Jordan further compounded Pakistan's woes with a 3-0 victory in Islamabad during Ramadan, and a 7-0 thrashing in the reverse fixture at the Amman International Stadium.
Upcoming Fixtures
With this latest defeat, Pakistan remains firmly at the bottom of Group G, having failed to secure a single point in their qualifying campaign. Their final group match is against Tajikistan, where they will be looking to salvage some pride after a challenging series of games.
