Pakistan’s women’s football team competed in the FIFA Series 2026 in Ivory Coast this month, marking their first appearance at a senior FIFA-sanctioned event. The tournament is part of FIFA’s initiative to give international exposure to emerging national sides.
The Shaheens opened their campaign on April 9 at the Stade Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan with an 8-0 victory over Turks and Caicos Islands, the biggest win in the history of Pakistan women’s football. The result surpassed their previous best of 7-0.
Forward Nadia Khan, who has cited Brazilian star Neymar as an influence on her game, was among the scorers and became Pakistan’s all-time leading goal scorer in the process. Aqsa Mushtaq and Layla Banaras both scored twice. Zahmena Malik scored Pakistan’s first-ever goal in a FIFA Series match. Captain Maria Khan anchored the midfield and goalkeeper Zeeyana Jivraj had a steady tournament throughout.
The team followed the opening win with two defeats. They lost 1-0 to Mauritania despite periods of control and fell 2-0 to hosts Ivory Coast after Anmol Hira was shown a red card, leaving the side to play much of the match with ten players. Pakistan finished third in their group.
Pakistan Women’s Football Returns After Eight-Year Absence
The team resumed international football in late 2022 after nearly eight years without fixtures. The absence was the result of FIFA suspensions tied to internal disputes within the Pakistan Football Federation and third-party interference, which also affected the team’s international ranking.
Pakistan Football Federation president Syed Mohsen Gilani said the country went through difficult years but is now focused on rebuilding with FIFA’s support.
Alongside results on the pitch, the federation is working to develop grassroots infrastructure for the women’s game. Efforts include school competitions and partnerships with educational institutions to introduce more girls to football at an early age. Plans are also underway to establish dedicated development structures for women’s football at the national level.
