Chinese Taipei defeated the Pakistan women’s football team (Pakistan WNF) 8-0 in the first qualifier for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 in Indonesia, ramping up pressure on the team for its remaining two qualifiers this week.
Chinese Taipei, a three-time winner of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, was the early favorite of Group D, which also includes Kyrgyzstan and Indonesia. Representing Taiwan, Chinese Taipei is second only to the nine wins of the Chinese national women’s team. It is tied in second place with North Korea, which also has three wins to its credit.
Wary of their opponent’s past success, Pakistan—participating in the qualifier for the first time—had held a two-day intensive ahead of their flight to Indonesia last week. However, they failed to reckon with the differences between the Pakistani and Indonesian pitches, potentially hampering their chances of success in the first qualifier. The natural grass pitches of Indonesia are generally better-maintained than those in Pakistan, with a milder temperature, requiring time and practice to acclimate to the new conditions.
After the setback on Sunday, the team aims to regroup before the next qualifier against Indonesia on July 2, and the third and final qualifier against Kyrgyzstan on July 5.
Despite the loss against Taipei, Pakistan retains the potential to both qualify and succeed in the competition under the leadership of Head Coach Adeel Rizki and Team Captain Maria Khan. In anticipation of the tournament, the team has introduced several new call-ups to the team—Layla Banaras, Aqsa Mushtaq, Zeeyana Jivraj, Mariam Sara, Marsha Malik and Azwa Chaundry. Veteran forward Nadia Khan, meanwhile, is the player to watch, having consistently been among the top goal scorers for the team.
Prior to Pakistan’s match against Taipei, Group B’s qualifiers saw the country’s longtime sports rival India beat their opponent Mongolia 13-0, proving themselves serious contenders in the tournament. The second qualifier between Iraq and East Timor ended in a draw—though not for lack of trying, as Iran’s aggression was penalized with two yellow cards and one red card for E.Shareef.
Overall, 34 teams are competing in this year’s tournament, a major spike from the 24 that competed in the competition in 2022, reflecting a growing interest in women’s sport—both on and offline, as women’s squads play catch-up to their male counterparts.
Unfortunately, Pakistan WNF have long suffered from the same neglect as their male counterparts, with the country continuing to prioritize cricket to the detriment of all other sports. Reports of financial mismanagement have persisted for years. Players often complain of lengthy delays in the release of dues and a lack of resources to secure specialized trainers or equipment. Legal issues concerning the leadership of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) have been a running concern, hampering the country’s regular participation in global competitions. The apathy becomes starker considering Pakistan’s global recognition as a major football manufacturing hub, with estimates that Sialkot produces over 70% of the world’s footballs.
A strong performance for Pakistan WNF in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 could prove a wake-up call for authorities and their unwillingness to invest in the sport’s development. This is especially vital considering the team must next ready itself for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 in Brazil and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
There is no denying the impact of a win at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 for the sport’s relevance in Pakistan. However, even mere participation cannot be short changed, reflecting the country’s slow, but steady strides toward women’s empowerment.
The road ahead is long and difficult, but with passion and drive, the team can overcome all obstacles in its path. Whether winning or losing, the players of Pakistan WNF can take heart in knowing they are giving it their all.