Pakistan Women Withdrew From SAFF 2026 in India Due to Political Tensions

The Pakistan women's national football team has officially withdrawn from the upcoming SAFF Women's Championship in India, dealing another massive blow to a squad desperate for playing time.

This development does not come as a total shock to those following the situation closely. A few months ago, PFF President Mohsin Gillani explicitly mentioned that the women's team's participation in the tournament would depend entirely upon the government, noting that if the authorities did not grant permission, the federation would not allow the team to travel.

The withdrawal is incredibly frustrating for a team that only played three matches in all of last year. Despite the lack of consistent fixtures, the squad has showcased crazy potential. During their recent maiden FIFA Series campaign in Ivory Coast, they secured a record-breaking 8-0 demolition of the Turks and Caicos Islands and put up a strong fight in their other fixtures. However, players and coaches alike have repeatedly stressed that potential means very little without consistent exposure to international football.

The regional tournament, set to take place in Goa from May 25 to June 7, will proceed without the Shaheens after the team failed to secure government clearance to travel across the border due to ongoing geopolitical tensions. Confirming the withdrawal, the federation clarified their position regarding the travel restrictions in a recent statement to Al Jazeera.

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"We have not been issued an NOC [no objection certificate] by the relevant authorities," a spokesperson of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) told Al Jazeera.

Following the FIFA Series, attacking midfielder Aqsa Mushtaq highlighted the team's struggles with inactivity. "It's been a whole year since we last played Indonesia. It's so important to play in every FIFA window if we can, every couple of months," she urged. Star forward Nadia Khan echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the team needs regular camps and matches. "To build football abilities, we have to continuously be playing, not just by ourselves but as a team... But the opportunities we get through football in Pakistan are very little," she noted.

Head coach Adeel Rizki has also been vocal about the fundamental obstacles stunting his squad's growth. "The most important thing is continuity — regular camps and international matches," Adeel stated recently. "The players need consistent time together to build understanding, improve fitness levels and develop cohesion as a team. Without that continuity, progress becomes very difficult."

Unfortunately, the immediate future looks bleak in terms of international fixtures. With the SAFF Championship off the table, Pakistan currently does not have any games scheduled for the upcoming June international window. According to football journalist Zeeshan Shafi, the Jordan Football Association had actually extended an invitation to the Pakistan women's team for friendly matches, but the PFF declined the offer—likely due to severe funding issues within the federation.

The players have proven they have the talent, resilience, and mentality to compete, but they cannot do it sitting on the sidelines. Let's see what happens in the coming weeks, hoping the PFF can somehow arrange friendlies and get this promising women's team back on the pitch where they belong.