2026 National Football Challenge Cup

2026 National Football Challenge Cup
National Challenge Cup
Tournament details
CountryPakistan
Dates4 – 15 February
Teams12
Final positions
ChampionsWAPDA
Runners-upKhan Research Laboratories
Third placeSA Gardens
Fourth placePakistan Army
Tournament statistics
Top goal scorerSyed Ali Raza (6 goals)
Awards
Best playerWaqar Baloch
Best goalkeeperHassan Ali

All statistics correct as of 15 February 2026.

The 2026 Pakistan National Football Challenge Cup was the 31st edition of domestic football cup competition in Pakistan. 12 departmental teams participate in the competition, from 4 until 15 February. WAPDA successfully defended the title after defeating Khan Research Laboratories in the final.[1]

Background

After a long lasting football inactivity and the election of new Pakistan Football Federation president Mohsen Gilani, the tournament was expected to start between 15 and 30 October 2025, until being delayed.[2][3] The tournament took place at two venues in Karachi, KMC Stadium and KPT Sports Complex.[1][4][5]

Format

Teams were divided into four pools, with the top two from each advancing to the quarter-finals.[1]

Teams

The 12 teams participating in the tournament were as below. Pakistan Police and Gwadar Port Authority withdrew after initially confirming participation.[1]

Group stage

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Mamsons 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 4 Advance to Knockout round
2 Pakistan Air Force 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 3
3 Pakistan Navy 2 0 1 1 0 1 −1 1
Updated to match(es) played on 8 February 2026. Source:
Pakistan Navy0–1Pakistan Air Force
Report
  • Arsalan 90+2'
KPT Stadium, Karachi
Pakistan Air Force1–2Mamsons
  • Samad Khan 18'
 Report
KMC Stadium, Karachi
Mamsons0–0Pakistan Navy
Report
KPT Stadium, Karachi

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 WAPDA 2 1 1 0 5 0 +5 4 Advance to Knockout round
2 Khan Research Laboratories 2 1 1 0 3 0 +3 4
3 Hazara Coal 2 0 0 2 0 8 −8 0
Updated to match(es) played on 8 February 2026. Source:
WAPDA0–0Khan Research Laboratories
Report
KMC Stadium, Karachi
Khan Research Laboratories3–0Hazara Coal
 Report
KPT Stadium, Karachi
Hazara Coal0–5WAPDA
Report
KMC Stadium, Karachi

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Pakistan Army 2 1 1 0 3 1 +2 4 Advance to Knockout round
2 International Supply Company 2 1 0 1 1 2 −1 3
3 Pakistan Railways 2 0 1 1 1 2 −1 1
Updated to match(es) played on 8 February 2026. Source:
Pakistan Army1–1Pakistan Railways
  • Rafay 58'
 Report
  • Mohammad Suleman 88'
KPT Stadium, Karachi
Pakistan Railways0–1International Supply Company
Report
  • Ubaid 85'
KMC Stadium, Karachi
International Supply Company0–2Pakistan Army
Report
  • Rafay 13'
  • Subhan Karim 61'
KPT Stadium, Karachi

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 SA Gardens 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 4 Advance to Knockout round
2 NIMSO 2 1 0 1 2 1 +1 3
3 Pak Afghan Clearing Agency 2 0 1 1 1 3 −2 1
Updated to match(es) played on 8 February 2026. Source:
SA Gardens1–1Pak Afghan Clearing Agency
  • Umar Javed 90+3'
 Report
  • Sharef Khan 45+7'
KMC Stadium, Karachi
Pak Afghan Clearing Agency0–2NIMSO
Report
  • Zulfiqar 17'
  • Altaf 22'
KPT Stadium, Karachi
NIMSO0–1SA Gardens
Report
  • Shahzaib 53'
KMC Stadium, Karachi

Knockout round

Quarter-finals

Mamsons0–2Khan Research Laboratories
Report Najeebullah 41'
Moin Ahmed 79'
KPT Stadium, Karachi
WAPDA3–0Pakistan Air Force
Mohammad Abdullah 5'
Adnan Saeed 23'
Syed Ali Raza 45+4'		 Report
KPT Stadium, Karachi
Pakistan Army4–0NIMSO
Rafay 13', 26'
Mansoor 24'
Noor Saba 85'		 Report
KPT Stadium, Karachi
SA Gardens1–1International Supply Company
Umar Javed 35' (pen.) Report Salman Umer 73'
Penalties
4–2
KPT Stadium, Karachi

Semi-finals

Khan Research Laboratories4–0Pakistan Army
Ali Zafar 26'
Zaid Umer 47'
Ali Agha 70'
Sameer Abbas 83'		 Report
KPT Stadium, Karachi
WAPDA4–0SA Gardens
Syed Ali Raza 31', 53' (pen.)
Mohib Ullah 36' (o.g)
Hammad Hassan 90'		 Report
KPT Stadium, Karachi

Third position

Pakistan Army2–2SA Gardens
  • Abrar Ahmed 11'
  • Qadeer 21'
 Report
  • Fahad 13'
  • Ubah 37'
Penalties
2–4
KPT Stadium, Karachi

Final

Khan Research Laboratories0–1WAPDA
Report Sumnan Qaiser 86'
KPT Stadium, Karachi

Awards

Award Recipient Club
Top Scorer Syed Ali Raza WAPDA
Most Valuable Player Waqar Baloch Khan Research Laboratories
Best Goalkeeper Hassan Ali WAPDA
Best Referee Adnan Anjum

Dilawar Khan

-
Best Assistant Referee Ehsan Ahmed -
Fair play - International Supply Company

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Solano to scout talent as Pakistan launch National Football Challenge Cup". The Cricket Plus. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
  2. ^ Yaqoob, Mohammad (2025-07-18). "Mohsen vows to bring positive change as new PFF chief". Dawn. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
  3. ^ "Exciting News: PFF Plans National Challenge Cup in October | Nukta". nukta.com. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
  4. ^ Ali, Ahmed (2026-02-04). "National Challenge Cup returns as Solano seeks 'gradual growth'". Dawn. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  5. ^ Rizwan (2026-02-04). "National Challenge Cup set for grand kickoff today". www.thenews.pk. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
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