Sports Bulletin

Colombo (PR): Pakistan made a winning start to their SAFF U17 Championship 2025 campaign in Sri Lanka, securing a convincing 4-0 victory over Bhutan.Mohammad Abdullah was the star of the match, scoring a brilliant hat-trick. He opened the scoring in the 15th minute before doubling the lead in the 25th minute. Hamza Yasir extended Pakistan’s advantage with a goal in the 67th minute, while Muhammad Abdullah completed his hat-trick just three minutes later in the 70th minute.Pakistan will now face Maldives in their second group match on 19 September 2025 at 2:30 PM Pakistan Standard Time.

Sports Bulletin ReportRiyadh (Saudi Arabia): New Al Kholood Head Coach Des Buckingham is a well-travelled man. Now coaching in his fifth country since taking up the role earlier this summer, the Englishman is settling into life in the Rosh Saudi League after spells in New Zealand, Australia and India, where he made history with Mumbai City, winning the Indian Super League and breaking records in the process.His home-town club Oxford United came calling next. A whirlwind return saw Buckingham take the side back to the EFL Championship for the first time in 25 years, writing his name in club folklore along the way.Appointed earlier this summer by Al Kholood’s new owners, the Harburg Group, Buckingham will lead the first foreign-owned club in RSL history. Now settling into life in Ar Rass, Buckingham is relishing the prospect of facing some of the best players and coaches in the world throughout the season ahead.he said: “I look at the managers that are in the league this year. We've got Inzaghi, Lauren Blanc, Jorge Jesus… then you look at some of the players we know, the obvious one is Ronaldo, but you have Mane, Benzema. You've got Nunez, Coman, Neves, so in terms of the quality that it attracts and will continue to attract, it's an exciting place to be right now. I think there's teams here now that have got a forward line that in the Premier League wouldn't go a miss. You know, they all pose their own challenges, but that's the exciting part for me as a Head Coach. I want to challenge myself in the highest place I can in terms of coaches and managers and this league certainly will give me the opportunity to do that.”On the opportunity to coach in Saudi Arabia, Buckingham continued: “The Saudi Pro League is seen as the largest or the biggest competition in Asia. We've done our Champions league campaign with Mumbai for five weeks whilst in Riyadh. So I've been to the country before and it is football mad. And of course you've got 2034 for the World Cup. So it is a very football-mad country. So even walking around the remote regions like we are here in Ar Rass everybody is a football fan.”Reflecting on the challenge of working overseas, Buckingham said: “I love what working overseas allows you to learn. About not just yourself, but about football and about life. I think there's so many things, whether it be cultural, whether it be religion, whether it be football, that I'd like to think, in this fourth [overseas] country now, that will make me not just a better coach, but will make me a better person.”

Abdullah AsjadISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has announced the squad for the upcoming SAFF U-17 Championship 2025, scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka from September 15 to 27, 2025. The squad was finalized by Head Coach Syed Nasir Ismail.Names of players:Goalkeepers: Samar Razzaq, Khalil Jibran and Adil Ali KhanDefenders: Nadeem Hussain, Mohammad Alam, Mohammad Masood, Mohammad Zubair, Shahid Anjum, Aabiss Raza and Azizullah Midfielders: Mustafa Israr, Abdul Samad, Ibrahim Asif, Mohammad Talha, Haroon Rasheed, Mohammad Essa and Saad Tiwana Forwards: Mohammad Abdullah, Mansoor Ahmed, Hasnain Wali Raza, Mohammad Owais, Hamza Yasir and Syed ShahramPakistan has been placed in Group B alongside India, Maldives, and Bhutan. The national side will begin its campaign against Bhutan on September 16, face Maldives on September 19, and conclude the group stage with a match against India on September 22.

Sports Bulletin ReportIslamabad - The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has announced the national U23 squad for AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Saudi Arabia Qualifiers to be held in Cambodia. Under the guidance of Head Coach Nolberto Solano, the squad features a mix of talented players ready to compete at the international level.The final travelling squad comprises 23 players.Goalkeeper: Adam Najeeb, Hassan Ali, Umair AroojForwards: Mckeal Abdullah, Umair Bahader, Furqan Umer, Ali Raza, Suleman Ali, Adeel YounasMidfielder: Tufail Khan, Hayyaan Khattak, Muhammad Junaid, Ali Zafar, Adnan JustinDefenders: Haseeb Khan, Mohib Ullah, Muhammad Adeel, Ans Amin, Mohammad Haroon, Hamza Munir, Ahmed Salman, Junaid Shah, Abdul Rehman

48-team FIFA World Cup to take place in Canada, Mexico, and the United StatesIslamabad (Sports Report): On Friday, 5 December 2025, the world will discover the group-stage matches to be contested at the FIFA World Cup 26™, with all eyes set to converge on the Kennedy Center in Washington DC for the final draw. As announced by the President of the United States and Chairman of the Kennedy Center, Donald J. Trump, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the White House, the Kennedy Center will serve as the location for team officials, ambassadors, fans representing the tournament’s Host Cities and global media representatives, amongst others, to unite, as one of the major milestones on the path to the biggest and most engaging FIFA World Cup™ ever is held. The Kennedy Center is America’s national cultural centre and a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, attracting millions of visitors each year to more than 2,000 performances, events and exhibits. In December, the iconic FIFA World Cup Trophy will shine brightly at the venue as the world’s best national teams discover their next steps on the path to lifting the coveted crown at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, 19 July next year. In a groundbreaking initiative for the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup, fans from each of the 16 Host Cities (two in Canada, three in Mexico and 11 in the United States) will be able to participate in a special lottery for the chance to win complimentary admission to the once-in-a-lifetime event, including a VIP experience. A select number of admissions will be allocated to each Host City, with the lottery procedures to be announced in due course. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: “We are excited to host the most anticipated Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup in history in the cultural and entertainment heart of the United States, the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. The draw is a major tournament milestone and one that will continue the remarkable build-up to the biggest sporting event ever, as we get set for many landmark FIFA events across North America throughout 2026. We look forward to welcoming the team delegations, our partners, global media, and, uniquely, fans representing each of the 16 wonderful Host Cities, to the capital of the United States for this significant occasion.” The draw will commence at 12:00 local time (18:00 CET) and will be beamed to the three host countries and around the globe by FIFA’s Media Partners. Further details of the draw, including broadcast information and the full draw procedures, will be published on FIFA.com in due course. The teams representing the host countries will be assigned to positions A1 (Mexico), B1 (Canada) and D1 (USA), as per the match schedule released last year.

Lahore (SBR): The President of the Pakistan Football Federation, Syed Mohsen Gilani, has stated that Pakistan has never had a coach of such a high pDuring a press conference held at the Pakistan Football Federation, President Syed Mohsen Gilani, accompanied by Head Coach Nolberto Solano, emphasised that Solano’s presence would provide a valuable learning opportunity for local coaches.“His experience will play a key role in strengthening modern football in Pakistan and motivating our players,” Gilani stated. He also highlighted the launch of Pakistan’s first-ever national futsal team, which is currently preparing to participate in an international tournament for the very first time. Gilani further added that FIFA and the AFC have assured their full support for Pakistan’s football development.Newly appointed Head Coach of the Pakistan U23 and Senior Men’s National Teams, Nolberto Solano, a former Peruvian international footballer and experienced coach, shared his vision for Pakistan football.“First of all, I want to thank PFF President Syed Mohsen for giving me this opportunity. It’s a great responsibility and a challenge for me,” Solano said. “I understand the issues Pakistan football is currently facing. In the few days I’ve spent here, I’ve seen an abundance of talent. The players are passionate and eager to play quality football.”“I truly believe we can achieve something meaningful. There’s a real opportunity to develop the game and raise it to a competitive standard. But we must be patient. Our immediate focus is on the U23 squad, and we’ll give it everything we’ve got. With hard work, balance, and time, we can build a strong foundation for the future, he added.

Sports Bulletin ReportRiyadh (Saudi Arabia): The Saudi Pro League (SPL) has announced the fixture list for the 2025-26 Roshn Saudi League (RSL), and it promises to be a blockbuster start to what is shaping up to be the league’s most competitive season yet. The new campaign kicks off on Thursday, August 28, and the opening rounds will deliver instant drama, marquee matchups, and fresh storylines across Saudi football.Which are the standout matches in the opening round?Matchday 1 sees reigning champions Al Ittihad begin their title defence away to Al Okhdood, while Cristiano Ronaldo – fresh from signing his new contract – and Al Nassr also hit the road to take on Al Taawoun, one of last season’s surprise packages. Following their superb run to the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals, Al Hilal start their campaign with a city derby clash against Al Riyadh.Arguably the match of the round takes place in Jeddah, where AFC Champions League winners Al Ahli host promoted Neom, who dominated the Saudi First Division last season. Neom have since bolstered their squad with the signings of former Arsenal captain Alexandre Lacazette, goalkeeper Marcin Bulka, and highly-rated midfield youngster Amadou Koné as manager Christophe Galtier aims to establish the Tabuk-based club in the top tier.Fast start in store for ‘Big Four’In a clear demonstration of the depth of quality in the RSL, there is no easing into the season for last year’s top three and Asian champions Al Ahli.Al Hilal immediately follow their opening match with a home clash against Al Qadsiah, last season’s fourth-place finishers and King’s Cup finalists, before travelling to Jeddah to take on Al Ahli on Matchday 3. Three rounds later, Al Hilal are back in Jeddah for the first Clasico against rivals Al Ittihad, meaning the Riyadh giants face several early-season tests that could be pivotal to the rest of their campaign.Following their opening trip to Al Taawoun, Al Nassr’s early schedule also includes a massive visit to Jeddah to play Al Ittihad on Matchday 4, followed by a home clash with Neom on Matchday 8. A challenging winter stretch between Matchdays 13 and 16 sees Jorge Jesus’ side face Al Ahli (A), Al Qadsiah (H), Al Hilal (A) in the Capital Derby, and Al Shabab (H).Al Ittihad’s start away to Al Okhdood is followed by home matches against Al Fateh and Al Nassr, either side of a trip to promoted Al Najma, before the blockbuster showdown with Al Hilal in Jeddah on Matchday 6. Their final game of the season will be a rematch of last season’s Kings Cup final in Jeddah against Al Qadsiah, whom they defeated to clinch the domestic double.After welcoming Neom on the opening day, Al Ahli clash with Al Hilal (H) on Matchday 3 and take on Al Ittihad (A) in the Sea Derby on Matchday 8. The reverse derby match is scheduled for Matchday 25.Derby days to mark on the calendarAl Hilal vs Al Nassr (Capital Derby): Matchday 15 (Al Hilal home) and Matchday 32 (Al Nassr home)Al Ittihad vs Al Ahli (Sea Derby): Matchday 8 (Al Ittihad home) and Matchday 25 (Al Ahli home)Al Qadsiah vs Al Ettifaq (Eastern Province derby): Matchday 9 (Al Qadsiah home) and Matchday 26 (Al Ettifaq home)Al Hilal vs Al Ittihad (Saudi Clasico): Matchday 6 (Al Ittihad home) and Matchday 23 (Al Hilal home)Surprise packages and record chasers:Beyond the usual title contenders, there will be many storylines to follow throughout the season as the drama unfolds. Among these could be Al Taawoun following an excellent 2024-25 season when they reached the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League 2 and placed eighth in the RSL.Péricles Chamusca, who was Al Taawoun manager between 2022 and 2024, is back in the dugout having steered Neom to promotion, and with a kind-looking early fixture list – Al Nassr are the only opponents in their first five games to finish in last season’s top six – Al Taawoun have an opportunity to build some early momentum before the first international break.Al Shabab start their season with four of their first six matches at home in Riyadh, which could provide a springboard for Abderrazak Hamdallah to make some monumental history. The Moroccan striker is just five goals shy of equalling the RSL’s all-time scoring record – currently held by Omar Al Somah with 155 goals – and a fast start to the campaign could see the prolific forward become the league’s greatest goalscorer.New season set to build on soaring success:The RSL enters the new campaign aiming to build on the league’s remarkable progress in recent years. The 2024-25 season saw a record 183 broadcast partners worldwide while more than 2.5 million fans attended matches throughout the Kingdom. Global interest in Saudi football has also soared, with a 200% increase in international sponsorship revenue.

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: The national team’s training camp for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers will commence on August 16 in Abbottabad.Head coach Nolberto Solano is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on August 15 and will oversee the camp, which is set to run for two weeks under his supervision.A total of 50 players, initially selected through tryouts, will participate in the training camp. The final 23-member squad will be announced at a later stage.As part of the qualifiers, Pakistan will play their first match against Iraq on September 3, followed by a game against host nation Cambodia on September 6. The team will conclude the group stage with a match against Oman on September 9.

Lahore (SBR): In a groundbreaking step toward gender equality in sports, the newly elected leadership of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has appointed Arooj Butt as the Team Manager of the Pakistan Men’s U-17 National Team. This historic appointment makes her the first woman in the country’s football history to hold such a key position at both national and international levels.Arooj Butt, who has been actively working with PFF since 2022 as Safeguarding Officer, holds multiple certifications in child safeguarding and welfare from FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF).With this appointment, PFF is sending a strong message: women have a place at every level of the game, from the field to the boardroom.The initiative closely aligns with FIFA’s global objectives, especially its commitment to human rights, anti-discrimination and the inclusion of women in football governance, as outlined in Article 3 of the FIFA Statutes. FIFA’s 2016 reforms also emphasized the importance of women’s full participation in shaping the future of the sport.On the occasion, PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani said: I am proud to see women taking managerial role in the history of Pakistan football. We believe her presence will inspire more women to take up key roles in football.

Islamabad (Sports Desk): Women’s football has enjoyed an action-packed two months, with continental competitions causing a shake-up in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking. England retained their European title by seeing off the challenge of Spain, Brazil successfully defended their South American crown, and the Solomon Islands took full advantage of New Zealand’s absence to lay claim to the Oceania throne.World champions Spain (1st, up 1) had an impressive run to the final of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 with five back-to-back wins, which was enough to see them reclaim top spot in the ranking, a position they previously held from December 2023 to June 2024. The USA (2nd, down 1) have therefore been knocked off their perch, which they had occupied since August 2024. However, three convincing home wins in friendlies during this period have kept the Stars and Stripes in contention, and they are now sitting less than two points behind La Roja.The top 10 has been shaken up completely since the June edition of the ranking, with France (6th, up 4) performing best among them. Les Bleues completed a flawless group stage at the European Championship before falling to Germany in the quarter-finals.Brazil (7th, down 3) have lost ground despite picking up their ninth continental trophy. They lost to France prior to the tournament, which subsequently saw the Seleção held to two draws by a hard-working Colombia side in the group stage as well as the in final, before prevailing on penalties.Further down the ranking, the Asian qualifiers for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™ and the OFC Women’s Nations Cup have stirred things up. Bangladesh (104th, up 24) recorded the biggest jump in places and points (+80.51), courtesy of their historic both qualification for the AFC final qualifying tournament for Brazil 2027, following dramatic victories over Myanmar, Bahrain and Turkmenistan.Vanuatu (100th, up 19) have also made considerable progress, as have the Solomon Islands (73rd, up 13), who have hit a new high in the ranking. No fewer than 10 teams are currently higher in the ranking than ever before, including Poland (26th, up 1), Haiti (49th, up 1), and Saudi Arabia (164th, up 1).