Pakistan will miss the AFC U20 qualifiers after the Pakistan Football Federation decided not to send the national U20 team due to a lack of funds.
The Asian Football Confederation announced the draw for the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers on Thursday, but Pakistan was not listed among the participating teams.
A PFF spokesperson said the federation had informed the AFC in April that Pakistan would not enter the qualifiers. The issue gained wider attention only after the official draw was released without Pakistan’s name.
The qualifiers are scheduled for August and September, while China will host the final AFC U20 Asian Cup tournament in 2027.
The absence means Pakistan will miss an AFC age-group event for the third straight time, denying young footballers another international platform.
The decision drew criticism in football circles, where questions were raised over the federation’s failure to arrange basic funding for youth national teams.
Pakistan football has faced years of administrative instability, FIFA suspensions and planning problems. Expectations had risen after the PFF elections last year, but many stakeholders believe conditions have not improved meaningfully.
Read: FIFA Lifts Ban on Pakistan Football Federation After Reforms
