Pakistan women ready for landmark FIFA Series campaign

Pakistan women’s national team head coach Adeel Rizki has urged his players to embrace the moment as they prepare for their historic debut at the FIFA Series in Ivory Coast.

Speaking alongside vice-captain Suha Hirani ahead of their opening match, Rizki described the tournament as a major milestone for both the team and the country’s football development.

“This is the first time we are playing in a FIFA event, which is a very big opportunity for our players and us as a nation,” Rizki said. “When you are given a chance to play at this level, you can’t be nervous or shy. We have to look forward to it and take it in a very positive stride.”

Pakistan open their campaign against Turks and Caicos Islands on April 9, before facing Mauritania on April 12 and hosts Ivory Coast on April 16. The FIFA Series aims to provide more international exposure by bringing together teams from different confederations, with this edition marking the first dedicated women’s competition.

The squad arrived in Abidjan earlier this week and has already begun preparations, with Rizki confirming the team is settling well and in good spirits.

Hirani highlighted the broader significance of the tournament, stressing the players’ desire to push Pakistan women’s football forward on the global stage.

“Our biggest motivation is to make sure that Pakistan women’s football progresses in the world,” she said. “We don’t get many chances to play, so every opportunity to represent Pakistan, we want to show that women and girls are capable of competing at this level.”

She also acknowledged the quality of the opposition, particularly hosts Ivory Coast, but remained confident in the team’s preparation and ambitions.

“The opposition is very strong, but we are prepared for the challenges,” Hirani said. “The aim is to win the whole series, and we hope to achieve that. This is the best team we’ve had in recent years, and we’ve had time to build good chemistry.”

Rizki added that while Pakistan remain in a developmental phase, the federation has laid out structured plans to improve competitiveness at the international level.

“We have short-, medium-, and long-term plans in place,” he said. “From starting a domestic league to ensuring regular participation in FIFA windows, the focus is on steady progress. It won’t happen overnight, but the improvement has to continue.”