Pakistan’s national football team endured a decisive 6-1 loss to Tajikistan in their second FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers match, held at Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad today.
Similar to their previous encounter with Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan swiftly took control of the match, scoring an early goal within minutes. Kamolov secured the opening goal with a slight deflection from Abdullah Iqbal. In under five minutes, Tajikistan expanded their lead with another long-range strike by Soirov, leaving Pakistan’s Yousuf Butt unable to stop the ball.
Attempting to counter Tajikistan’s dominance, Pakistan mounted a comeback in the 21st minute when Rahis Nabi executed a sensational left-footed goal, injecting hope for the home side and its supporters.
Challenges in team structure and off-the-ball movement plagued the Green Shirts, particularly in the first half, where their midfield presence was lacking. Exploiting these gaps, Tajikistan scored an outside-the-box goal in the 26th minute.
The struggles continued for Pakistan, conceding another goal just before halftime, leaving Tajikistan with a commanding three-goal lead.
In the second half, Pakistan faced difficulties in ball retention, with players struggling to control and slow down the tempo of the game. Every touch seemed geared toward the goal, hindering the establishment of a proper structure.
The Men in Green conceded yet another goal in the 65th minute, emphasizing their vulnerability in defending the penalty area.
Tajikistan added one more goal just before the final whistle, securing a convincing 6-1 victory in a one-sided match. The lone positive for Pakistan was Nabi’s impressive goal in the first half.
In a previous FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match, Pakistan suffered a 4-0 defeat against Saudi Arabia.
