Pakistan then defeated Afghanistan 2-0 in the final, with Shayek Dost and Harun Hamid scoring to secure the title.

Pakistan will begin their FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 campaign against Thailand on Saturday, with head coach Nolberto Solano viewing the tournament as an opportunity to test his team against stronger Asian opposition.

The Pakistan vs Thailand match will be played at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung at 4pm local time, with Pakistan scheduled to face the Philippines on September 29 before meeting Vietnam on October 2.

“We want to use this opportunity to test ourselves against teams like Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam,” Solano said at the pre-match press conference. “It’s an honour to be here and we know it will be a tough competition.”

Thailand enter the FIFA ASEAN Cup opener as the higher-ranked side. In the latest FIFA rankings, Thailand are 94th, while Pakistan are ranked 198th. The Philippines are 135th and Vietnam are 113th.

“All our opponents will be very tough and they have fantastic players,” Solano said. “Asian football has been getting better and better, so it is a big test for us.”

“We are slowly growing. We try to go step by step. We will try to prove ourselves as a national team and see how far we can go in this competition.”

Pakistan Build on Maldives Tournament Success

Pakistan head into the FIFA ASEAN Cup after winning the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament in the Maldives earlier this year.

Solano’s side remained unbeaten in the four-team tournament, drawing 0-0 with Bangladesh before defeating the Maldives 3-0 and Afghanistan 2-0 in the round-robin stage.

Pakistan then defeated Afghanistan 2-0 in the final, with Shayek Dost and Harun Hamid scoring to secure the title.

The victory ended Pakistan’s long wait for success in a standalone international tournament. Their previous final appearance had come at the 1962 Merdeka Cup, while their previous tournament triumph was a shared title at the 1952 Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament.

The FIFA ASEAN Cup, however, represents a significantly tougher challenge.

Thailand Squad Features Experienced Players

Thailand have named a strong squad for the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup, featuring veteran playmaker Chanathip Songkrasin, Japan-based midfielder Supachok Sarachat and English-born forward Jude Soonsup-Bell.

German-based defender Nicholas Mickelson is also part of the squad under English head coach Anthony Hudson.

The Thailand squad also includes established domestic players such as Supachai Chaided of Buriram United and Peeradon Chamratsamee of Port FC.

FIFA said Thailand’s squad includes Chanathip, Supachok and Soonsup-Bell, while Mickelson is among the overseas-based players selected for the tournament.

Abdullah Iqbal to Lead Pakistan

Pakistan have named a 23-man squad combining domestic players with footballers based abroad.

Captain Abdullah Iqbal will lead the national team, while experienced forward Kaleemullah has returned to the squad.

Defender Easah Suliman joined the team in Bandung after his arrival was delayed by illness. The rest of the squad had assembled in Indonesia ahead of the opening match.

Teenage midfielder Abdul Samad is also part of the squad. The Pakistan Under-17 captain recently signed a two-year contract with Azerbaijani champions Qarabag.

Abdullah said the tournament would provide Pakistan with an opportunity to compete against teams playing at a higher level.

“It is a great opportunity for us to compete against teams at another level,” the Pakistan captain said. “We will try to give our best.”

FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 Format

The inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup features 14 national teams, including all 11 ASEAN members and three guest teams.

The tournament is divided into two divisions, with Division One being staged in Indonesia.

Pakistan are in Group B alongside Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. The group follows a single round-robin format, with the group winner advancing to the Division One final.

Pakistan will face Thailand on September 26, the Philippines on September 29 and Vietnam on October 2.

The Pakistan vs Thailand clash will be followed by the Philippines fixture before Pakistan conclude their group campaign against Vietnam in Jakarta.

For Solano, the immediate focus is on measuring Pakistan against stronger opposition and continuing the team’s gradual development.

“We are slowly growing,” the former Peru international said. “We try to go step by step. We will try to prove ourselves as a national team and see how far we can go in this competition.”

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