Pakistan's national soccer team, led by manager Stephen Constantine, achieved a historic victory against Cambodia in the World Cup qualifiers. They won 1-0 in the second leg, securing their first-ever World Cup qualifying round win.
This marked a significant moment for the team as they hadn't won any international matches since 2018.
The 67th-minute goal by Harun Hamid sealed their progress to the second round of Asia's World Cup 2026 on aggregate, having drawn 0-0 in Phnom Penh.
The win led to emotional celebrations at Islamabad's Jinnah Sports Stadium.
Stephen Constantine, who took over as the manager just three and a half weeks before this victory, described the atmosphere as unbelievable.
He mentioned that he had never seen so many grown men cry.
"It is an unbelievable atmosphere here, I've not seen so many grown men cry in all my life," the 61-year-old Constantine, whose coaching career includes stints in charge of Nepal, Malawi, Sudan, Rwanda and India, told the BBC.
For Pakistan, this win was monumental because it was their first time qualifying for the second stage in their 75-year history.
Also, it marked their first home game in eight and a half years.
However, it's important to note that cricket is the most popular sport in Pakistan, and soccer has a less prominent place.
Pakistan, ranked 197th in the world, was previously banned by FIFA for 15 months due to 'undue third party interference'.
Now, they face matches against strong teams like Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Jordan in the second round of the World Cup qualifiers, beginning in November.
Constantine is uncertain about his future as he's on a short-term arrangement, and the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) needs to plan for the next steps.
