Jakarta, June 29, 2025: The Pakistan women’s football team suffered its heaviest-ever defeat on Sunday, falling 8-0 to Chinese Taipei in their opening match of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers held in Indonesia.
Despite fielding nine overseas-based players, Pakistan failed to put up a significant challenge against a vastly superior Chinese Taipei side, ranked nearly 100 places higher in the FIFA rankings. The starting lineup included only two locally-based players, highlighting Pakistan’s continued reliance on foreign-based talent for international competitions.
Chinese Taipei dominated the Group D encounter from the kickoff, maintaining relentless pressure on Pakistan’s backline. Goalkeeper Zeeyana Jivraj made a handful of early saves, but defensive lapses allowed the opposition to dictate the game. After scoring three goals in the first half, Chinese Taipei added five more in the second — four of which came in a brutal final six minutes.
The loss stands as the worst in Pakistan’s women’s football history, underscoring ongoing challenges in the national football structure, including lack of investment, limited domestic player development, and organizational issues.
Sources indicate that the players have not been paid for previous international tours, including those to Singapore and Saudi Arabia, pointing to persistent financial mismanagement that continues to dampen player morale and affect on-field performance.
Pakistan will now look to recover ahead of their next qualifier against hosts Indonesia on July 2, followed by a clash with Kyrgyzstan on July 5.
