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Football - Int News

FOOTBALL - Int News 11 Sep, 2026

Roshn Saudi League (RSL) golden boot winner Julian Quinones

RIYADH (Saudi Arabia): Following a competitive year for the Saudi Pro League (SPL) in the 2025/26 season, the league’s standout international stars have been recognised by France Football with the inclusion of the Roshn Saudi League (RSL) golden boot winner Julian Quinones and league champion Sadio Mane in the 30-man shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.Mexico forward Quinones was the breakout star for the host nation at this summer’s 2026 FIFA World Cup, scoring the opening goal of the tournament in Mexico City, before following it up with a string of impressive performances - and three more goals - as his side reached the Round of 16.Quinones had carried his RSL form onto football’s global showpiece, underlining his remarkable ability to find the back of the net with Al Qadsiah, where he landed the league’s golden boot with 33 goals. With a hat-trick in the final day of the 2025-26 season, Quinones edged out fellow international stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Ivan Toney to secure the award.Referencing the Ballon d’Or nomination after he scored in Al Qadsiah’s 3-2 victory against Al Ahli on Tuesday night, Quinones said: “I’m very proud to have achieved this. I’ve worked hard for this moment and now it has happened.“God’s timing is always perfect. I just try to keep working hard, improving and being the best I can be.”Fellow RSL standout Mane played a pivotal role in Al Nassr’s 2025/26 RSL title triumph, scoring 10 goals and providing six assists as the Riyadh-based club secured its first league title since 2019. Mane also captained Senegal in two major tournaments, helping his nation reach the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and also the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Asked about his Ballon d’Or nod, Mane said following Al Nassr’s 2-1 home victory against Abha on Wednesday night: “The feeling is incredible. I would say thank you to the fans and, of course, to the journalists.“I know many players could have been on the list for sure, especially from the Saudi Pro League. But yeah, this is the vote. So I would say thank you again.”Also, two of the RSL premier shot-stoppers, Yassine Bounou of Al Hilal and Morocco, and Edouard Mendy of Al Ahli and Senegal, were nominated for the illustrious Lev Yashin trophy. Awarded to the world’s best goalkeeper in honour of Yashin’s 1963 Ballon D’Or victory - the only No. 1 in history to achieve the feat - the 2026 nominations were further evidence of the RSL’s emergence on the global football scene.Bounou enjoyed a stellar campaign with Al Hilal and his country, winning the domestic King’s Cup and reaching the final of the African Cup of Nations at international level. This is his fourth nomination for the prestigious trophy, with the 2023-24 RSL Golden Glove winner earning back-to-back recognition in 2025 and 2026 respectively.For Mendy, the Senegal goalkeeper earns his third nod for the award, following his remarkable year in which the Al Ahli captain captured the AFC Champions League Elite for the second straight season alongside his prize for the 2025-26 SPL’s Best Goalkeeper. PR

FOOTBALL - Int News 19 Aug, 2026

Mohsin Calls on Pakistani Ambassador in Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq

Riyadh (PR): President of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Mohsen Gillani, called on Ambassador of Pakistan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ahmad Farooq, in Riyadh.During the meeting, opportunities to further strengthen cooperation and explore avenues for the development and promotion of football in Pakistan were discussed. The discussion also focused on potential collaboration and engagement with relevant stakeholders in the Kingdom to support Pakistan’s football ecosystem and create greater opportunities for players and sporting institutions.President Mohsen Gillani briefed the Ambassador on the PFF’s ongoing efforts and future initiatives aimed at promoting football at the national and grassroots levels.Ambassador Ahmad Farooq appreciated the efforts of the Pakistan Football Federation and assured his support in exploring avenues for greater cooperation and engagement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in the field of sports.The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment to utilizing sports, particularly football, as a platform to strengthen people-to-people ties and further deepen the longstanding brotherly relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

FOOTBALL - Int News 08 Aug, 2026

Al Nassr vs Al Hilal final-day showdown among marquee matches

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (SBR): With one week to go until the 2026-27 Roshn Saudi League season kicks off, anticipation is building for another campaign packed with world-class talent, fierce rivalries and compelling storylines.Beginning on August 13, 2026, and concluding on May 29, 2027, the 34-round season will feature 306 matches as clubs from across Saudi Arabia battle for domestic glory. From the opening round to the final whistle of Matchweek 34, fans can look forward to a calendar filled with blockbuster derbies, heavyweight clashes and fixtures that could shape the title race, continental qualification and relegation battle.Reigning champions Al Nassr begin the defence of their crown looking to fend off familiar challengers, with Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, Al Ahli and an increasingly competitive chasing pack all aiming to mount their own title bids. With many of the world's biggest stars once again set to grace the Roshn Saudi League, every matchweek promises high-quality football and unforgettable moments.The schedule also builds towards a thrilling finale, with champions Al Nassr hosting Riyadh rivals Al Hilal in a Capital Derby on the closing day of the season. Last season's title race went down to the final matchday, and the fixture list has once again created the potential for a dramatic conclusion to the campaign.

FOOTBALL - Int News 11 Jun, 2026

Azerbaijan U20 football team beat Pakistan 1-0 in a thrilling contest

Sports Bulletin ReportQabala (Azerbaijan): Hosts Azerbaijan Under-20 football team overcame Pakistan Under-20 in a well-contested and an exiting contest. Hikmat Jabrailzade scored solitary goal of the match in the first half on a free kick.Players of both side exhibited top class scorer game and amused the spectators by showcasing excellent game skills. Pakistan players missed couple of opportunities to square the game but failed to net the ball. However, this was a fine match enjoyed by the local people.A couple of coaches, Shahid Mehmood and Ramiz Ahemdov, nominated by the local football organization to observe the games of players, those may be selected for football league, which will be held later this year 2026.While talking to this reporter, Shahid Mehmood said, “I want to see good sports relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan and we are willing to give maximum opportunities to Pakistani football players and volleyball players. Talented players will be provided best occasion to excel and international level. The teams from different countries are visiting Azerbaijan from international competitions. We have a comprehensive plan to give chance to Pakistani players in different sports leagues including football and volleyball.”Shahid appreciated the efforts of Mohsin Gilani and his team in promoting the football in Pakistan. "Mohsin is providing maximum opportunities to budding players to move ahead in international stage٫ he said.Pakistan Squad: Syed Mohammad AAbis Raza Kazmi, Aadil Ali Khan, Zulqurnain, Najeebullah, Khobaib Khan, Sadam Hussian, Owais Ilyas, Mohammad Junaid, Mohammad Abdullah, Faham Ahmed, Abdullah Sharafat, Kashif Khan, Abdul Samad, Kashif Ali, Ali Zafar, Obaidullah Khan, Majid Ali, Abdul Khaliq, Abdul Rehman, Sameer Cheema, Anjum Shahid, Sharaf Khan, Syed Shahrum Mehboob

FOOTBALL - Int News 07 Jun, 2026

Pakistan beat Afghanistan 2-0 in Diamond Jubilee Cup to reach final

Sports Bulletin ReportUmar Nawaz’s early strike and a late goal by Harun Hamid gave Pakistan a 2-0 victory over Afghanistan and sent Nolberto Solano’s men through to the final of the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament in the Maldives on Sunday, with the win sealing top spot for the Shaheens in the round-robin stage of the four-nation event.This is the first time that Pakistan, who have won football gold at the South Asian Games four times, have reached the final of a stand-alone football tournament since the 1962 Merdeka Cup, where they ended runners-up to Indonesia. Their last tournament triumph dates to a decade prior to that when they were joint-winners of the Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament alongside India. Coming off a 3-0 victory against the Maldives — the national team’s first win after 961 days, Pakistan needed just a draw to book their place in the final.A dream start was delivered by Umar in the fifth minute; the striker side-footing home first-time an enticing low cross from fellow frontman Shayek Dost on the left.The goal helped Pakistan stamp their authority in the opening exchanges with Afghanistan, coaches by former Pakistan coach Jose Antonio Nogueira, finding it difficult to penetrate deep into the opposition half.With Shayek, Umar and Otis Khan being willing runners up top, and Haris Zeb and Fazal providing width, there remained ever-present danger for Afghanistan.Otis sent Easah Suliman clear with a delightful diagonal past the half-hour mark but the defender shot over the bar from outside the box.Afghanistan had a chance to level in first-half injury time when skipper Omid Popalzay struck the bar with a free-kick and it saw Pakistan go into the interval with the lead.Afghanistan needed to win to be absolutely sure of reaching the final and they came at Pakistan at the start of the second half but it was Nolberto Solano’s men who came closest to scoring when Shayek’s delightful dink on the hour mark sent Ali Agha free but the midfielder shot wide with just the goalkeeper to beat.At the other end, the Afghans had a chance when Omid Mosawi headed wide.Clearcut chances were few and far between as the clock ticked on until Harun Hamid scored with a rasping drive after being sent through by Adil Nabi in the first minute of injury time to send Pakistan into the title clash against either Afghanistan or Bangladesh on June 10.

FOOTBALL - Int News 06 Jun, 2026

U20 Fixture: Pakistan to face Azerbaijan on June 9, 2026

Pakistani players to get an opportunity to showcase their abilities and game skillsAbdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Shahid Mehmood and Ramiz Ahemdov will be eyeing very closely on the Pakistan players, when they will be encountering Azerbaijan in an Under-20 soccer match on June 9, 2026 at Qabala to pick up the talented and smart guys for upcoming Azerbaijan Football League (AFL). This will be an opportunity for the Pakistani lads to showcase their abilities and game skills to get a berth in the Azerbaijan Football League and to earn money.Pakistan Squad: Syed Mohammad AAbis Raza Kazmi, Aadil Ali Khan, Zulqurnain, Najeebullah, Khobaib Khan, Sadam Hussian, Owais Ilyas, Mohammad Junaid, Mohammad Abdullah, Faham Ahmed, Abdullah Sharafat, Kashif Khan, Abdul Samad, Kashif Ali, Ali Zafar, Obaidullah Khan, Majid Ali, Abdul Khaliq, Abdul Rehman, Sameer Cheema, Anjum Shahid, Sharaf Khan, Syed Shahrum MehboobOfficials: Mohammad Essa (Head Coach), Ishfaq Ahmed (Assistant Coach), Jaffar Khan (Goalkeeper Coach), Tenveer Ahmed (Mentor), Mohammad Zaman (Manager), Khuda Bux (Team Coordinator), Mohammad Abdullah Aamir (Physio), Sheikh Ahmed Rehan (Head of Delegation)Azerbaijan Officials: Alexambre Silva (Assistant Coach), Romeu Almeida (Assistant Coach), Vagif Javabov (Assistant Coach), Uzeyir Ibrahimov (Goalkeeper Coach), Rufat Karimli (Team Manager).

FOOTBALL - Int News 04 Jun, 2026

Pakistan turn on the style in 3-0 win over Maldives

Islamabad (Sports News): The Pakistan Men’s National Team turned on the style in a comprehensive 3-0 win over Maldives as the Shaheens earned their first win of the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament.Not only was this Pakistan’s first win after 962 days, it was also the Shaheens’ first win over Maldives since the 1991 SAF Games final.The first half saw Pakistan gain territorial ascendancy but the Shaheens were unable to break the deadlock. Things turned around in the second half, when Hayyan Khattak’s rasping drive saw the Maldives keeper spill the ball and Umer Nawaz was there to poach the ball and bundle it home.The first Pakistan goal saw Maldives going on the offence to equalise, which saw them create two clear cut chances that could not be converted. However, Maldives were also leaving huge spaces in the field, and substitute Abdul Samad Arshad caressed the ball past the keeper in the 83rd minute.The third goal came off a deflected shot when another substitute, Harun Hamid, saw his shot deflect off a defender in the 87th minute and go beyond a hapless Maldives keeper.This completed Pakistan’s first win in well over two years. And gave Head Coach Nolberto Solano his first win as Pakistan head coach.PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani congratulated the Pakistan team for their victory and hoped they will carry on in the same vein against Afghanistan in their next match on Saturday.

FOOTBALL - Int News 01 Jun, 2026

Pakistan play 0-0 Drawa against Bangladesh in Diamond Jubilee Campaign

Islamabad (Sports News): Pakistan men’s national football team began their Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament campaign in Maldives with a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Bangladesh on Sunday.In a closely contested encounter at the National Football Stadium in Malé, both sides created opportunities but were ultimately unable to find a breakthrough, settling for a point apiece.Pakistan handed international debuts to Adil Nabi and Ali Akbar Khan, while defender Easah Suliman returned to the starting lineup after a two-year absence due to injury. However, the visitors suffered an early setback when midfielder Rahis Nabi was forced off injured after just 15 minutes, with Hayyaan Khattak coming on as his replacement.Bangladesh, fielding their Olympic squad as part of preparations to provide their young players with senior international experience, adopted a counter-attacking approach throughout the contest. Their best opportunity of the first half arrived in the 26th minute, but Pakistan goalkeeper Yousuf Butt produced an excellent save to keep the scores level.The match remained goalless at the interval, with Pakistan looking the more likely side to increase the tempo after the break.The introduction of Ali Haider Shah, Mohibullah Afridi and Alamgir Ghazi in the second half injected fresh energy into the Pakistani attack. Ghazi nearly made an immediate impact in the 57th minute when his powerful long-range effort struck the post.Momentum swung further in Pakistan’s favour five minutes later when Bangladesh captain SM Monjurur Rahman was sent off for elbowing Yousuf Butt during a set-piece situation. Pakistan defender Syed Abdullah Shah was also cautioned following the incident.With a numerical advantage, Pakistan pushed forward in search of a winner. Ali Haider Shah came closest in the 66th minute, meeting an Ali Khan Niazi cross with a well-struck volley that was brilliantly saved by Bangladesh goalkeeper Md Mehedi Hassan Srabon.Despite sustained pressure from the Shaheens, Bangladesh defended resolutely to preserve the deadlock. Srabon again proved decisive deep into stoppage time, denying substitute Harun Hamid in the 95th minute to ensure his side escaped with a share of the points.After an entertaining and fiercely contested encounter between the South Asian rivals, the final whistle confirmed a goalless draw.Pakistan will next face tournament hosts Maldives on June 4 at 4:00pm PKT before concluding their group-stage campaign against Afghanistan on June 7. The top two teams at the end of the group stage will advance to the tournament final on June 10.

FOOTBALL - Int News 15 May, 2026

Shakira and Burna Boy team up to release Dai Dai, Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Song

Islamabad (Sports Desk):Today, excitement for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ continues to build with the release of Dai Dai, featuring Shakira and Burna Boy via Sony Music Latin.Dai Dai will be the Official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Song in support of FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise USD100 million by the end of the tournament to provide children around the world with access to quality education and football opportunities.Shakira is partnering with Global Citizen and FIFA to provide access to education for children in underserved communities with Shakira’s royalties from Dai Dai being donated to the Education Fund, and Sony Music will match the first USD250,000 raised with a donation.Shakira will also co-headline the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Final Halftime Show on Sunday, 19 July. Marking a historic first for the FIFA World Cup™, the final will feature a halftime show, bringing together global artists for a singular moment at the intersection of sport, culture, and purpose, to support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.Following the release of Lighter, Por Ella, Echo and Illuminate, the Official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Album will continue to unfold in the upcoming weeks, with additional singles set to be released as anticipation for the tournament continues to build.Featuring artists from across continents, genres and cultures, the growing soundtrack reflects the global spirit and diversity of the FIFA World Cup™, bringing fans together through the universal languages of music and football.

FOOTBALL - Int News 30 Apr, 2026

Pakistan end UEFA campaign with narrow loss against Azerbaijan

Lahore (PFF Report): Pakistan played with heart and intensity but fell to a 1-0 loss to Azerbaijan in their final game of the UEFA Under-16 Development Tournament at the BIIK Sports Complex in Shymkent, Kazakhstan on Thursday.Having dominated for the majority of the match, Pakistan conceded late on when Azerbaijan’s Nazim Aliyev scored from close range before holding on with 10 players after defender Hamza was sent off.The defeat meant Pakistan ended the tournament at the bottom of the standings, having earlier suffered defeats to hosts Kazakhstan and Russia. However, coach Mohammad Essa hailed the learning experience for his young charges.“We played really positive football today with good attacking and build up play,” said Essa. “This is a learning tournament for us with Pakistan participating in UEFA competition for the first time and I think the boys played with a lot of spirit and determination. “With more exposure I have no doubt that we will learn more and I thank PFF president Mohsen Gilani for arranging this opportunity for us.”Pakistan started with purpose against Azerbaijan, who had beaten Kazakhstan on penalties in their last match, with the midfield and forward line combining well and the consistent press giving their opponents little room.They grew into the game and striker Danish Masih’s introduction in the second half saw several chances being created.However, Azerbaijan struck on the counter in the 77th minute when Pakistan lost possession and the ball was played to Aliyev.Pakistan finished with 10 players when Hamza was shown a straight red in the 86th and despite pouring forward in the dying minutes, they couldn’t get an equaliser.