Sports Bulletin

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).

Islamabad (Sports Desk): The FIFA Referees Committee has announced the match officials who will oversee games at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025™, which will take place from 27 September to 19 October. A total of 54 match officials (18 referees and 36 assistant referees) from 22 FIFA Member Associations are set to take charge of the matches.“Following the success of the FIFA Club World Cup, we look forward to another exciting tournament, for which we have once again appointed a very strong Team One line-up. From a refereeing perspective, it’s very important that the officials have the opportunity to be involved at a tournament featuring the stars of tomorrow and for us to carry out further testing of Football Video Support (FVS), which has been a great success so far,” said the Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina.The use of Football Video Support (FVS) at the tournament follows on from the trials implemented last year at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup™ in Colombia and the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup™ in the Dominican Republic.The FVS trials followed numerous requests from member associations for an alternative, cost-effective way of using technology to support match officials. Unlike the video assistant referee (VAR) system, FVS does not use dedicated video match officials and therefore does not check all match-changing incidents. Instead, the onus falls on the respective head coaches, who are allowed to make a limited number of review requests per game when they feel that a clear and obvious error has been made in match-changing incidents, such as goals, penalty decisions, direct red card incidents or cases of mistaken identity. The players can also recommend that their coaches request a review.“Chile is a football-loving country, and we have an excellent opportunity to ensure that this year’s edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup leaves a legacy on a refereeing level. The (FIFA) U-20 World Cup is a highly competitive tournament that requires officials to have a sound reading of the game,” noted FIFA Director of Refereeing Massimo Busacca.

Pakistan Education Board, Punjab University, Baloch Club Nushki, and Dostan Atish Club Tank move into next roundAbdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Pakistan Education Board, Punjab University, Baloch Club Nushki, and Dostan Atish Club Tank have moved into the next round of the ongoing First Chief Minister Balochistan Gold Cup League Football Tournament 2025 after beating their respective opponents at different football grounds on Tuesday.According to a press release from the organizing committee of the Sports Department of Balochistan, in the first match of the day, the Pakistan Education Board (PEB) defeated Balochistan 4-1 at Ayub Stadium, Quetta. Abbas scored 3 goals for Pakistan Education Board while Ibrahim and Abdul Wahab netted the ball each one time. Zabrin scored the solitary goal for Balochistan. Pakistan Education Board earned 3 valuable points and qualified for the next round.The special guest of this match was Secretary Sports of the Balochistan Sports Department Yasir Bazai, who was introduced to the players of both teams. Abdul Raziq was the referee and was assisted by Faisal Khan and Mohammad Mohammad Akram performed the duties of the Match Commissioner.The second match of the day was played between Punjab University and Anti-Corruption. In the first half, Punjab University was leading 2-o goal. In the second half of the game, neither team was able to score more goals. Punjab University team won this match by 2-0 and added 3 valuable points, and qualified for the next round.At Yar Mohammad Khan Barich Railway Football Ground, Baloch Club Noshki overcame Afghan Academy Quetta 2-1 in a well-contested 90-minute competition in the penultimate match of the day. The players of both teams played well. Baloch Club Noshki won the match with a margin of one goal and got 3 valuable points to qualify for the next round.In the last fixture of the day, Dostan Atish Club Tank thrashed Madhu Mohammadan Club Karachi 4-2 at Qayyum Papa Stadium. The players of Dostan Atish Club Tank played aggressively and scored 4 goals against the opposing team while Madhu Mohammadan scored 2 goals. Dostan Atish Club Tank won the match by 4-2 goals and added 3 valuable points to reach in the next round.

Lahore (PR): Under the leadership of President Syed Mohsen Gilani, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has made two major international appointments that signal a bold new chapter for Pakistan football.Nolberto Solano, legendary Peruvian international and former Premier League star, has officially been appointed as the Head Coach of Senior Men’s National and U23 Team. Solano brings a wealth of global experience, having played for top clubs including Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and Boca Juniors, and earned 95 caps for Peru. As a coach, he was part of Peru’s historic qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and their runner-up finish at the 2019 Copa América.Joining him is Jorge Castañeira, a globally respected performance and fitness coach, who will serve as Associate Fitness Coach for the Senior Men’s National Team. With over 30 years of elite-level experience, Jorge has worked across continents with top national teams and clubs.Sharing his views, the President PFF Syed Mohsen Gilani said: “Nolberto Solano is a big name in world football while Jorge Castañeira brings top-level fitness training to our team. Together, they will help us build a strong and professional future for football in our country.”With Solano and Castañeira joining us, we will give our players better facilities”, he added.

Sports Bulletin ReportQuetta: The first match of the fifth All Pakistan Chief Minister Balochistan Gold Cup Football Tournament at Ayub Stadium was played between the Wazir Club Wana and Real Huda Quetta that Wazir Club Wana won by one goal to zero and earned 3 valuable points. The second match was played between Pakistan Police and Hazara Academy Quetta. Pakistan Police won this match by 3 goals to 2 and got 3 valuable points. At Yar Mohammad Khan Barich Railway Football Ground- the first match of the series was played between Lyari Tigers Club Karachi and Youth Afghan Club Chaman. Lyari Tigers Club Karachi won this match by 3 goals to 0 and got 3 valuable points. The second match was played between Popo Football Club and DFA. The match was tied 2-2 between the two teams. In case of a tie, both teams got one point each. The first match of the series at Sadiq Shaheed Ground (Mali Bagh) was played between Khyber Afghan Zhob and DFA Chaman. The match was tied without any goals. And in case of a tie, one point was earned each. The second match was played between the teams of DFA Kharan and Sindh Government Press Karachi. In the first half of the game, DFA Kharan scored 3 goals while Sindh Government Press scored one goal. In the second half, DFA Kharan scored another and won the match 4-1. DFA Kharan won this match by 4 goals to 1 and earned 3 valuable points. The first match of the series at Qayyum Papa Stadium was played between the teams of Ismail Memorial Karachi and Youth Afghan Quetta. Which proved to be one-sided. And Ismail Memorial Karachi won this match by 6 goals to 0 and earned 3 points. The second match was played between the teams of Gwadar Port Authority and DFA Loralai. Gwadar Port Authority won this match by 2 goals in one match and got 3 valuable points. At IT University- the first match was played between the teams of Islamabad vs DFA Hub. Islamabad won this match by 2 goals in one match and got 3 valuable points. The second was played between the teams of Kashmir vs Afghan Academy. Afghan Academy Quetta won this match by 2 goals in one match and got 3 valuable points.

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: President, Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Syed Mohsen Gilani vowed to revive the game of football in the country, and the federation would set a roadmap to achieve the goal of promoting football in Pakistan.While addressing a press conference at the Football House in Lahore, accompanied by PFF Vice President Hafiz Zakaullah and Executive Committee Member from Punjab, Raja Amer Khan, he announced a bold roadmap to bring Pakistan football back on track, with clear plans to restore, develop, and uplift the sport across the country. He shared that he recently met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who expressed satisfaction with the way the PFF elections were conducted.The PFF President stated that the new leadership is determined to take steps that can benefit football development. He stressed that Pakistan football is no longer in a stagnant phase and will now move ahead at a fast pace.The revival of FIFA Development Programs in Pakistan is among the federation’s top priorities. Two key FIFA initiatives will soon be implemented. The first is the FIFA Arena Program, for which an agreement has already been signed with FIFA. Under this program, modern mini-pitches will be constructed, starting with two pilot projects. Schools across Pakistan will be encouraged to participate and utilize these facilities.The second major program is Football for Schools in Pakistan. The federation is actively coordinating with the government to implement this program nationwide. Talks are also ongoing with La Liga, which is expected to assist the PFF in reviving the sport through training, infrastructure, and technical support.Responding to media questions, the PFF President clarified that there are currently no complete records of the previous Goal Projects. He emphasized that only the Disciplinary Committees will decide the fate of any banned officials and that no external influence will interfere in those matters.Regarding the Professional League, the President explained that a professional league is the soul of any federation. Work is already in progress to develop a new league system. Although it cannot be launched immediately, the goal is to roll it out as soon as possible, and make it one of the finest in the region.Special focus is also being placed on women’s football. The President highlighted that Pakistan’s women footballers are performing well, and the federation is planning to establish dedicated departments for their development. FIFA has also assured its support in coaching, technical assistance, and broader development for women in football.On the financial side, the PFF is confident that football in Pakistan can be run in a sustainable and business-like manner. The federation plans to generate its own revenue through strategic planning and commercial initiatives.The PFF President also shared that relations with the government are strong. When FIFA President Giani Infantino and AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa visits Pakistan, they are expected to meet with high-level government officials, further strengthening the partnership between the federation and state institutions, he concluded.

Quetta, (SBR) July 15 - The highly anticipated 5th All Pakistan CM Balochistan Football Gold Cup has finally arrived, and what a spectacle it is! The tournament kicked off with great fanfare at the Ayub Sports Complex Football Ground, with Advisor for Sports, Meena Majeed, formally inaugurating the mega event.The ceremony was attended by esteemed guests, including Provincial Minister for Education, Raheela Durrani, Sardar Rasool Bux, Baba Umrani, Secretary Sports and youth affairs, Durra Baloch, Director General of Sports Dr.Yasir khan Bazai, Assistant director Asif langove, Deputy Director, Asif Farooqi, Kamran Khurshid, and Assistant Director, Muhib Ur Rehman .In her address, Advisor for Sports, Meena Majeed, highlighted the vision of CM Mir Sarfraz Bugti to engage youth in sports and promote a culture of peace and harmony. "This tournament is a testament to our commitment to showcasing the true spirit of Balochistan commitments a land of hospitality, love for sports, and hatred for terrorism," She emphasized.Secretary Sports and Youth affairs, Durra Baloch, reflected the similar sentiments, saying, "Balochistan is a land of passionate football fans, and this tournament is a perfect platform to showcase our love for the beautiful game. We welcome teams from all over Pakistan to participate in this mega event and discover new talent."The tournament will feature 67 teams from across the country, competing in a series of thrilling matches from July 15 to July 31. The final match will be played on July 31, with the winning team taking home a whopping Rs. 25 lac prize. The runner-up will receive Rs. 15 lac, while the third-place team will be awarded Rs. 5 lac.The inaugural match was played between Baloch Football Club Noshki and Afghan Football Club Chaman, which was ended with 1.1 goal setting the tone for an exciting tournament ahead.