The Pakistan football team — the Shaheens — is the country’s senior men’s national side, run by the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and competing in Asia under the AFC. As of October 2026 the team sits 197th in the FIFA world rankings, coached by former Newcastle United star Nolberto Solano and captained by Abdullah Iqbal.
Quick answer: The Pakistan football team is ranked 197th in the world (FIFA, 8 October 2026). Head coach Nolberto Solano took charge in July 2025 under PFF president Mohsen Gilani. Pakistan has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup; its landmark result remains the 1-0 win over Cambodia in October 2023 — the country’s first-ever World Cup qualifying victory.
Team Snapshot 2026
Pakistan’s FIFA code is PAK. The team plays its home matches at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad, wears green, and carries the nickname Shaheens (The Falcons). The October 2026 ranking of 197th marks a one-place climb after a difficult 2026 that saw the side drop to 203rd following a 1-0 defeat to Myanmar in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in March. The team’s all-time high was 141st (February 1994); its low was 205th (June 2019).
Coach and Captain
Nolberto Solano, the Peruvian who made over 300 Premier League appearances for Newcastle United, Aston Villa and West Ham, was appointed head coach of Pakistan’s senior and U-23 teams on 21 July 2025 — the first major appointment of the newly elected PFF under president Mohsen Gilani. Solano won 95 caps for Peru and was assistant coach when Peru reached the 2018 World Cup. Former Newcastle teammate Titus Bramble joined as assistant coach in September 2026. The armband belongs to defender Abdullah Iqbal. More on the coaching setup in our Pakistan national football team profile.
History in Brief
Pakistan played its first international in 1950 (a 5-1 defeat to Iran in Tehran). The 1960s brought the country’s biggest wins — 7-0 over Thailand in 1960 and 9-2 over Guam in 2008 — while the heaviest defeats were 9-1 to Iran (1969) and 8-0 to Iraq (1993). The Shaheens finished third at the 1997 SAFF Championship, their best regional result, and appeared as guests at the 2026 ASEAN Cup. Years of administrative turmoil, including long spells under a FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee and a 2025 FIFA suspension over constitutional wrangling, repeatedly stalled progress before the federation’s elected congress took office.
World Cup Qualifying Record
Pakistan has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, but October 2023 delivered the breakthrough: a 1-0 aggregate win over Cambodia — Harun Hamid’s 68th-minute strike at Jinnah Stadium — took Pakistan into the second round of Asian qualifying for the first time. Drawn with Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Tajikistan in Group G, the Shaheens earned respect but not enough points to progress. The full campaign story is told in Pakistan at the FIFA World Cup.
FAQs
What is Pakistan football team’s FIFA ranking?
197th in the world as of 8 October 2026, up one place from the previous update. Pakistan’s highest ranking was 141st in February 1994.
Who is the coach of the Pakistan football team?
Nolberto Solano of Peru, appointed 21 July 2025. He succeeded Stephen Constantine and is assisted by Titus Bramble and physical trainer Jorge Castaneira.
Has Pakistan ever qualified for the FIFA World Cup?
No. The closest the team has come was reaching the second round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup after beating Cambodia in October 2023.
Where does the Pakistan football team play home matches?
At Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad, which hosted the historic Cambodia qualifier in front of a home crowd in October 2023.
