Pakistan U-16 squad departs for UEFA Development Tournament
Lahore: The Pakistan U-16 Boys’ National Team has officially departed for Kazakhstan to compete in the UEFA U-16 Boys Development Tournament 2026.
This marks the first time in history that a Pakistani squad will participate in a UEFA-sanctioned event, signaling a new era of international integration for the country’s youth football.The tournament is scheduled to take place from April 24 to April 30 at the prestigious Namys Stadium within the Biik Sports Complex.
The 19-member squad, meticulously scouted by the national coaching staff, left from Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, and is expected to arrive in Almaty tonight. The tournament features a high-caliber lineup, with Pakistan set to test their mettle against host nation Kazakhstan, alongside footballing powerhouses Russia and Azerbaijan. The schedule for the “Young Shaheens” is as follows: April 25: vs. Kazakhstan, April 27: vs. Russia, April 30: vs. Azerbaijan.
Syed Mohsen Gilani, President of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), hailed the trip as a “major breakthrough” and a cornerstone of the PFF’s long-term vision.”Access to European competition at this level has historically been out of reach for our young players, and that is a gap we are determined to close,” Gilani stated.
“The U-16 age group is where footballers begin to define themselves. You cannot build world-class players by keeping them local. This platform is vital for providing our boys with the character-testing environment they need to understand international standards.”
Gilani further emphasized that this participation reflects the PFF’s strengthening ties with global football bodies and its commitment to creating structured pathways from grassroots to elite levels.
The tournament serves as an invaluable learning platform, offering the squad exposure to the technical and tactical sophistication of UEFA-affiliated nations. For the coaching and support staff, it offers a benchmark to measure domestic talent against international excellence, laying a foundation for future qualification cycles.
OFFICIAL 19-MEMBER SQUAD ;
Goalkeepers: Samar Razzaq, Naveed Ullah
Defenders: Muhammad Alam, Hamza Amjad, Maqbool Ahmed, Nadeem Hussain, Abdul Raheem Elahi, Syed Manzar Shah
Midfielders: M. Mustafa, M. Essa, Sagar Mehrban, Haroon Rasheed, Shahraz Khan, Abdul Samad, Hamza Yasir, M. Hanzala
Forwards: Danish Masih, M. Rafay, Kaleem Ullah.
