MALE, Maldives: Pakistan’s football team has rewritten history under the floodlights of the National Football Stadium, ending a 74-year drought for a standalone international title with a commanding 2-0 victory over arch-rivals Afghanistan in the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament final, a triumph that marks the nation’s first senior men’s crown since sharing the Asian Quadrangular trophy with India back in 1952.
Shayak Dost’s sensational first-half strike led Pakistan to a resounding victory over Afghanistan on Wednesday. The victory meant Pakistan prevailed in their first senior men’s international final since the 1991 South Asian Games, where they defeated Maldives 2-0.
🚨 PAKISTAN ARE THE CHAMPIONS 🚨
– Pakistan beat Afghanistan 2-0 in the final of the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament.
– It’s time to invest in this sport and make the Pakistan football team a competitive one. 🇵🇰🔥 pic.twitter.com/NIXFreSsg2
— Rayham. (@RayhamUnplugged) June 10, 2026
Furthermore, the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament glory marked Pakistan’s first standalone title since sharing the Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament crown with India in 1952, which was played in the round-robin format.
History made for Pakistan football.
After more than six decades, Pakistan has lifted an international football trophy, defeating Afghanistan 2-0 in a commanding final to win the Diamond Jubilee International Tournament.
The Green Shirts produced a disciplined and dominant… pic.twitter.com/LOd7alN1yo
— The Strategic Insight (@Strategicprism0) June 10, 2026
The Green Shirts made a spirited start to the summit clash as they dominated possession and were eventually rewarded in the 24th minute when forward Dost netted a sensational goal through a bicycle kick after midfielder Otis Khan miscued a kick just inside the box, which lobbed perfectly for the forward.
Following Pakistan’s early strike, Afghanistan made desperate efforts to net the equaliser in the first half, which, however, ended at 1-0 in the Green Shirts’ favour.
The second half followed the same pattern as Afghanistan were denied the equaliser despite Pakistan making multiple substitutions, and the scoreboard remained intact at 1-0 until the conclusion of regulation time.
Forward Harun Hamid inflicted the final blow on Afghanistan’s hope of forcing the match into extra time as he doubled Pakistan’s lead in the fourth minute of injury time, ultimately rounding off a historic victory for the Green Shirts.
Pakistan are crowned champions of the Diamond Jubilee International Football Cup as Captain Abdullah Iqbal collects the trophy, the team celebrates in full joy, a historic moment for the nation after almost 24 years without a senior football trophy.
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD💚 pic.twitter.com/2XE0C52VmZ
— Cricket Pakistan (@crickethub_pk) June 10, 2026
Pakistan squad
Goalkeepers: Saqib Hanif, Yousuf Butt and Hassan Ali.
Defenders: Abdullah Iqbal, Mohammad Fazal, Abdullah Shah, Easah Suliman, Mohib Afridi, Mamoon Moosa, Ali Niazi and Haris Zeb.
Midfielders: Adil Nabi, Rahis Nabi, Alamgir Ghazi, Hayyan Khattak, Ali Agha and Otis Khan.
Forwards: Shayak Dost, Umer Nawaz, Ali Shah, Ali Khan, Samad Arshad and Harun Hamid.
