ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday congratulated Pakistan’s football team, coaches and management after the national side won the 2026 Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament, securing a historic victory over Afghanistan in the final.
In a message issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz Sharif described the achievement as a moment of immense pride for the nation and praised the team for displaying outstanding skill, determination and teamwork throughout the tournament.
“This historic success is a source of pride for the entire nation,” the prime minister said, adding that the team had raised Pakistan’s profile on the international stage through its performance.
Pakistan defeated Afghanistan 2-0 in the final at the National Football Stadium in Male, Maldives, with Shayak Dost opening the scoring through a spectacular bicycle kick before Harun Hamid sealed the victory in injury time.
The triumph marked Pakistan’s first standalone international football title in 74 years and the country’s first senior men’s international tournament victory since the 1991 South Asian Games final. It also ended a decades-long wait for major international silverware and represented a significant moment for football in Pakistan.
The prime minister noted that the title was the first official international football tournament crown in Pakistan’s history and described it as an important milestone for the promotion of sports and the encouragement of young athletes across the country.
Expressing confidence in the future of Pakistan football, Shehbaz Sharif said he hoped the national team would continue to build on this success and achieve further milestones while proudly representing the country in international competitions.
