Pakistan will face Cambodia on Tuesday in Islamabad as both teams look to qualify for the second round of FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
It must be noted that the Cambodian football team went through their paces here Sunday at the practice pitch of the Pakistan Sports Complex following their arrival in the city for FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying second leg against Pakistan at the Jinnah Stadium.
Following the goalless first leg draw, the Cambodian team has started their activities in Islamabad for the second leg. Both the Pakistan and Cambodian teams had their practice at the outer pitch. Pakistan were the first to use facilities for almost 90 minutes followed by the tourists who were seen busy with practice for nearly two hours.
The teams are scheduled to practice at the match venue today (Monday) before the return match.
“Both the teams will be allowed to practice for around 60 minutes each at the match venue on Monday. On the same day the team officials are to hold a press conference,” an official, when contacted, said.
Meanwhile, the team’s welcome at the Islamabad International Airport was grossly mishandled by the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Normalization Committee as there was no one to receive guests, leaving the visitors to make their own arrangements.
“The person deputed to welcome the team reached late at the Airport which resulted in unnecessary trouble for the visiting team. We are sorry and have already expressed the same with the visiting team management,” one of the Normalisation Committee members when approached said.
Abdul Mohi Shah Abdul Mohi Shah is a senior reporter for The News
