Page 14 - Stephen Constantine News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Asia is set to start its 2026 World Cup journey, giving the lower-ranked teams such as Afghanistan, Bhutan and Pakistan a chance to grab some attention and secure matches against soccer’s continental heavyweights. The Asian Football Confederation’s 20 lowest-ranked teams compete in two-leg, home-and-away series on Thursday and next Tuesday, with the 10 winners advancing to the second round of the qualifying group stage. Afghanistan, ranked 158th, takes on No. 183 Mongolia.

Asia is set to start its 2026 World Cup journey, giving the lower-ranked teams such as Afghanistan, Bhutan and Pakistan a chance to grab some attention and secure matches against soccer’s continental heavyweights. The Asian Football Confederation’s 20 lowest-ranked teams compete in two-leg, home-and-away series on Thursday and next Tuesday, with the 10 winners advancing to the second round of the qualifying group stage.

Pakistan need to beat Cambodia over two legs starting with the first game in Phnom Penh on Oct 12 with the return in Islamabad five days later.

Rogerio Ramos has previously worked with recently-appointed head coach Stephen Constantine

NC removed coaches Sajjad Mehmood, Hasan Baloch and former Pakistan captain Jaffar Khan