Kaleemullah scored four goals as Pakistan beat Tonga 6-1 at the FIFA Under-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan, securing the Shaheens’ first victory of the tournament. Kaleemullah four goals turned an early setback into a commanding win, and the result was hailed as the first victory by a Pakistani team on the FIFA World Cup stage.
Pakistan fell behind in the sixth minute after Tonga were awarded a penalty. The lead lasted barely a minute. Kaleemullah levelled from the spot in the seventh minute, then put Pakistan ahead in the 13th minute with a header from a cross on the right.
Kaleemullah four goals: how they came
Pakistan kept up their attacking pressure after taking the lead, and Kaleemullah completed his hat-trick with another penalty in first-half stoppage time. Three of his four goals therefore came from dead-ball situations and close-range headers, a mix that showed both composure from the spot and movement in the box.
The forward added his fourth goal after the break, heading home at the far post from a kick-in on the left to extend Pakistan’s advantage. Maqbool then increased the lead with a powerful long-range strike, before Mustafa completed the scoring with a composed finish following an attack down the left.
Pakistan continued to create chances as their movement and finishing overwhelmed Tonga. The 6-1 scoreline reflected the run of play after the early scare, with Pakistan in control for most of the match once Kaleemullah had turned the game around.
What the PFF president said
Pakistan Football Federation President Syed Mohsen Gilani attended the match and encouraged the players before kick-off. After the final whistle, he congratulated the squad on becoming the first Pakistani team to record a victory on the FIFA World Cup stage.
Gilani also praised the team management and coaching staff for preparing the players for the competition, highlighting the value of facing opponents from different regions. He expressed hope that the tournament would open further opportunities for young Pakistani footballers to gain international experience and develop their careers.
Why this win matters
Youth tournaments are judged as much on development as on results, and this win gives Pakistan’s under-15 side both. A first victory on a FIFA stage is a concrete marker for a programme that has spent years trying to give young players competitive matches against teams from other continents. It also gives the squad momentum in a tournament where early results shape the rest of the campaign.
Feature Pakistan has also followed the Shaheens’ campaign in Baku, including their earlier match against Gambia. The Tonga result now stands as the team’s first win of the tournament, and it came in the most emphatic way possible: a four-goal display from one forward and six goals from the side as a whole.
What happens next
The squad will now look to build on the win in their remaining tournament fixtures. The details that matter from here are consistency and composure: whether the side can repeat the attacking movement that produced six goals, and whether the early defensive lapse that conceded a sixth-minute penalty is tightened up. For Kaleemullah, the challenge is simpler to state: a four-goal match sets a standard that opponents will now plan against.
Frequently asked questions
Who scored Pakistan’s goals against Tonga?
Kaleemullah scored four, and Maqbool and Mustafa added one each in the 6-1 win.
How did the match unfold?
Tonga led from a sixth-minute penalty, Kaleemullah levelled a minute later from the spot, put Pakistan ahead in the 13th minute, completed his hat-trick in first-half stoppage time, and added a fourth after the break.
Where was the tournament played?
The FIFA Under-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 is being held in Azerbaijan.
Why is the win described as historic?
Pakistan Football Federation President Syed Mohsen Gilani congratulated the squad on becoming the first Pakistani team to record a victory on the FIFA World Cup stage.
