Following objections raised by the Pakistan Football Federation Normalisation Committee over the lighting at the Jinnah Stadium for Pakistan’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia next month, the Pakistan Sports Board has insisted that everything will be fixed for the match to go on as scheduled.
Pakistan are due to host the Saudis on June 6 but the PFF NC wrote to the PSB stating that it will be forced to shift the match to a different venue if the floodlights aren’t according to FIFA standards.
A senior PSB official, however, told Dawn on Monday that a solution has been found.
“The idea is to install four floodlights on both sides of the two goal posts in the next few days,” the official stated, adding that the arrangements will be in accordance with the FIFA standards.
A team of officials from the PFF NC visited the Jinnah Stadium earlier this month alongside a delegation from the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and its inspection found that the floodlights weren’t up to international standard. It urged the PSB to propose remedial measures and complete lighting arrangements as per standards so that it could share the details with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation accordingly.
“Shifting the match away from Pakistan would be highly shameful for us,” the PSB official said. “It will be a disgrace for the country and if that happens, strict action will be taken against the responsible officials of the PSB.
