Top 10 Football Clubs In Pakistan

Introduction

Millions of people around the world have a strong emotional connection to football, also known as the “beautiful game,” and Pakistan is no exception. The popularity of football in Pakistan has increased recently, and many clubs have emerged as shining examples of skill, talent, and passion for the game. It’s time to highlight the leading candidates as fans and aficionados eagerly watch the highs and lows of local football. We explore the exciting world of Pakistani football in this post, where we also reveal the definitive ranking of the Top 10 Football Clubs in Pakistan. Rising stars and historical powerhouses alike, these teams are the epitome of the game; their skill on the field and unwavering devotion to the game captivate spectators. Come along as we examine the diverse fabric of football brilliance that characterizes Pakistani football.

10. Baloch Football Club Quetta

A football team in Quetta, Pakistan is called Baloch Football Club Quetta. After being promoted from the 2020 PFF League, it most recently participated in the Pakistan Premier League.

Baloch FC Quetta was among the original participants of the Pakistan Premier League in 2004. After placing 14th in the standings at the end of the season, the team was demoted.

Baloch Quetta played its first PFF match in the 2005–06 PFF National League, a match they lost against Pakistan Police.

Baloch Quetta finished first in the 2009–10 PFF League and advanced to the semifinals. They fell to Young Blood in the championship match, after defeating Muslim FC in the semifinals.

Baloch Quetta was promoted to the Pakistan Premier League for the first time in the 2013 PFF League.In the Pakistan Premier League of 2014–15, they made their PPL debut. They were demoted to the following PFF League, nevertheless, and lost all of their games.

Baloch Quetta won the 2020 PFF League and was advanced to the Pakistan Premier League of 2021, although they subsequently withdrew.

9. Sui Southern Gas Company Football Club

The football division of Sui Southern Gas Company was the Sui Southern Gas Company Football Club, also referred to as SSGC or Sui Southern Gas. The team participated in the Pakistan Premier League in the past.

They performed in the Korangi Baloch Stadium and were based in Karachi.

Sui Southern Gas Company, a Pakistani football club, began its career in 1996 and participated in the PFF President’s Cup in 1996. They lost both games in the 1998 President’s Cup and were eliminated in the 1999 All Pakistan Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan Football Tournament.

In 1999, they made history by defeating Karachi Metropolitan Corporation 2-0 in the group stage. In 2000, they participated in the National Championship for the first time and advanced to the Round of 16, but were defeated by Allied Bank. In 2003, they advanced to the All-Pakistan Tapal Tezdum Invitation Football Tournament semi-finals but were defeated by Karachi Electric Supply Corporation.

In 2006-07, they participated in the PFF National League but finished bottom in their group and were eliminated from the promotional play-offs. In 2007, they were only four points from promotion to the Pakistan Premier League, but finished third in the “Super Six” group. In 2008, they won the 2008–09 second division but were unable to advance. In 2010, they were promoted to the 2010–11 Pakistan Premier League but finished 15th in the league. Asim Faiz, the club’s second-best scorer, scored 16 goals this season, making him the second-best scorer in the league.

From the competition’s start, Khan Research Laboratories has dominated the Pakistan Premier League. In the 2004–05 season, they scored 98 goals in 30 games and finished third. In the 2009–10 season, they emerged victorious in both the league and the national championship, having been deadlocked on 60 points but winning the league on goal differential. In the final, they defeated Pakistan Airlines 1-0 to win the 2009 National Football Challenge Cup as well. They were the league champions in 2011–12, 2012–13, and 2013–14, and they did so in that order. They finished sixth in the 2014–15 season despite losing their best players to FC Dordoi Bishkek.They were the National Football Challenge Cup’s most successful club in 2015 and 2016 after winning two Challenge Cups. In 2018, they defeated Sui Southern Gas 4-0 to win their sixth Premier League championship.

In the group stage of the 2010 AFC President’s Cup, Khan Research Laboratories made their Asian debut, coming in second to Vakhsh Qurghonteppa. They advanced to the 2012 AFC President’s Cup finals, where they placed last in their group. They were drawn to play against Dordoi Bishkek, Global, and Yeedzin in the 2013 AFC President’s Cup. They placed second in their group according to goal differential. In September 2013, they advanced to the last group stage, when they took against Dordoi Bishkek and Hilal Al-Quds. In the end, they were defeated by Balkan. They placed last in their group during the first round of the 2014 AFC President’s Cup.

8. Muslim Football Club

Based in Chaman, Balochistan, Muslim Football Club is a professional football team representing Pakistan in the Pakistan Premier League. The majority of the semi-professional players from the first club year had jobs outside of football.

After being founded in 2010, the team joined Pakistan’s second league of football, the Football Federation League. The team was paired alongside University Football Club, Wohaib, and local rivals Afghan Sports and Baloch Quetta in the 2010–11 Pakistan Football Federation League. The team defeated University Football Club 1-0 in their debut game. The team trounced Afghan Sports and Baloch Quetta, two local rivals, 3–2 and 3–0, respectively, in their second and third games.

The team drew 1-1 with Wohaib to conclude their final group stage game. The team was promoted to the 2011–12 Pakistan Premier League after winning their group. To determine the 2010–11 Pakistan Football Federation League winner, the club played Pakistan Police, the winners of the departmental leg, on December 15, 2010. Saeed Ahmed, the club’s striker, scored four goals in five appearances, although Muslim lost the game 2-1.

The Muslim Football Club won the All Pakistan Peace Tournament in 2017 after defeating Chashma Green.

7. Lyallpur Football Club

Located in Faisalabad, Punjab, Lyallpur Football Club is a professional football team from Pakistan.

Originally called University Football Club, the group was created. The team advanced to the second round of the 2010 PFF League club phase and, behind Muslim FC and Wohaib, finished third in the standings.

The club, which was promoted from the 2012 PFF League, changed its name to Lyallpur FC prior to the commencement of the 2013–14 Pakistan Premier League. After placing 14th in the standings at the end of the season, the team was demoted.

The team placed first in group A in the club phase of the 2014–15 Pakistan Football Federation League, ahead of Huma and Mardan Blue Star; however, they finished last in the final club stage, behind Baloch Nushki and Al Mohammaden.

Lyallpur entered the Pakistan Premier League for 2021–2022 in place of other teams that ultimately chose not to play. A few months into the season, the league was halted, and eventually it was canceled.

6. Afghan Football Club Chaman

Located in Chaman, Balochistan, a border city close to Afghanistan, Afghan Football Club Chaman, or simply AFC Chaman, is a professional football team in Pakistan. The Pakistan Premier League was the club’s most recent competition.

As Afghan Agency Chaman, the club was established in 1960. They achieved their first-ever competition triumph in Pakistan on June 27, 1965, when they won the “All Pakistan Tournament” at Sibi. They participated in the Quetta-based “All Pakistan General Musa tournament” in 1967. They participated in the 1999 All-Pakistan Prime Minister’s Peace Cup, where they were grouped with Khan Research Laboratories and WAPDA. They lost both of their matches by identical scorelines of 1-0, which eliminated them from the competition.

They participated in the National Football Challenge Cup in 2000, their first top-tier national competition. They were supposed to play Karachi Port Trust, however they withdrew from the competition.

Afghan FC Chaman faced a Kandahar local club in 2000 at Kandahar Stadium as part of an invitation tour. The tour’s third and last game was interrupted mid-play by Taliban religious police who broke through the earth. Twelve Afghan Chaman players were detained by the Taliban and, as a result of their refusal to wear shorts, had their heads shaved.

They played in the Pakistan Unity Solidarity Football Tournament in 2002 under their present name, changing it to All-Pakistan Defense. They ranked second in their group, behind Karachi Port Trust, however Crescent Textiles Mills eventually took their place.

5. Pakistan Airlines Football Club

The football division of Pakistan International Airlines was known as the Pakistan International Airlines Football Club, or PIA F.C. The team was formerly a Pakistan Premier League competitor and was based in Karachi, Sindh.

In order to represent Pakistan International Airlines in the Inter-Departmental League, the club was established in 1958. The team won its maiden championship in 1971 after defeating Karachi in the championship game. In 1972, they successfully defended their title by defeating Peshawar White. They defeated Punjab A, a provincial team, in the first of the two 1975 seasons to win their third championship. They held off a threat from Pakistan Railways FC in 1976 to keep their title.

After martial law prevented Pakistani football from being played in 1977, Pakistan Airlines was the defending champion in 1978. They defeated Sindh Red to win the title a record five times. In 1981, they won over Pakistan Air Force to secure their sixth title. They were defeated in 1989 by Sindh Government Press, and they had to wait eight years to win another championship.

They won their ninth championship in the 1992–93 season after defeating Pakistan Army. They overcame fierce opposition from Allied Bank in the 1997 season to capture their ninth national title.

In its first season, the team, which joined the Pakistan Premier League in 2007, came in sixth place. They finished two spots lower in 2008–09 and were unable to advance to the 2008 National Football Challenge Cup. They played well in the 2009 National Football Challenge Cup, but were defeated in the championship game by Khan Research Laboratories. They placed fourth in the 2014–15 season and second in the 2015 NBP National Challenge Cup. Due to financial difficulties, they were demoted and eliminated in the group rounds in 2018.

4. K-Electric Football Club

The football division of K-Electric was the K-Electric Football Club, also known as K-Electric F.C. or just KE. The team competed in the Premier League of Pakistan. Peoples Football Stadium served as the club’s home field and was located in Karachi, Sindh.

K-Electric, which was established in 1974, was promoted from the Pakistan Football Federation League in 2005 after finishing behind Pakistan Railways. The team became the first from Pakistan to qualify for the AFC Cup after winning their first league title in the 2014–15 season after placing second the previous two seasons.

The club’s crest and uniform both include the colors back and yellow.

After defeating the champions of Bhutan and Mongolia, K-Electric F.C. created football history in August 2015 by becoming the first Pakistani team to advance to the AFC Cup play-offs. They drew 3–3 with Khoromkhon and then defeated them 1-0. But in the playoffs, they fell to Al-Hidd 0–2.

K-Electric F.C. participated in the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup in October of that same year. Muhammad Rasool, their striker, scored four goals in three games.

Additionally, K-Electric organized a number of youth programs, including the K-Electric Lyari U16 Football League.

K-Electric made the decision to dissolve their squad in 2020.

3. Pakistan Army Football Club

The Pakistan Army has a football division, known as the Pakistan Army Football Club. The Pakistan Army founded the club in 1950, making it the third-oldest in the country after Pakistan Navy (1948) and Karachi Port Trust (1887). The team participated in the Pakistan Premier League in the past. The PFF National Challenge Cup is an annual event in which the club competes.

The Pakistan Army has won the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy five times, the National Football Challenge Cup twice, and Pakistan’s top football league four times.

As the previous season’s national champions, the Pakistan Army represented Pakistan in the AFC President’s Cup in both 2006 and 2007. Army performed poorly in both situations, placing last in their groups and missing out on moving on to the tournament’s further stages. In the All-Pakistan Football Tournament at the Peoples Football Stadium in Karachi in 2016, Pakistan Army won against Pakistan Airlines.

2. WAPDA Lahore Football Club

Water & Power Development Authority’s football division is represented by WAPDA Lahore Football Club. It is headquartered in Punjab, Pakistan’s Lahore. The team participated in the Pakistan Premier League in the past. The PFF National Challenge Cup is an annual event in which the club competes.

WAPDA has won five titles in the Pakistan Premier League and has been crowned champions of Pakistan eight times. They defeated Habib Bank in 1983 to win their first league championship, which they repeated in 1991.[2] They defeated Khan Research Laboratories in 2001 to win their third championship, and they won it again in 2003 against Pakistan Army.[2] They overcame Pakistan Army to secure second place in the final day of the redesigned Pakistan Premier League in 2004, becoming the league’s first champions.

Their greatest accomplishment was in 2007–08 when they defeated Pakistan Army on the last day of the season to become undefeated. They are the only Pakistani team to go undefeated at the end of the season and claim the Invincibles title.

WAPDA was established in 1983 and took home its first NFL trophy in 1991. The team won the league five times in the 2000s, when they also won the most awards. In the 1991 Asian Club Championship, WAPDA made their debut in an Asian competition and was defeated 5–0 by Dhaka Mohammedan SC. In the AFC President’s Cup 2005, they played as Pakistan’s representatives; they lost both matches against Hello United and Blue Star SC. They drew one and lost two games in 2008, finishing last in their group. They made the semi-finals in 2009 after placing second in their group.

1. Khan Research Laboratories Football Club

The football division of Khan Research Laboratories is called KRL F.C. or KRL, short for Khan Research Laboratories Football Club. The team, which is based in Rawalpindi, uses KRL Stadium for its home games. The team participated in the Pakistan Premier League in the past. The PFF National Challenge Cup is an annual event in which the club competes.

The team has taken home six National Football Challenge Cups and five Pakistan Premier League championships. With eleven trophies, they are the most successful club in the nation. They lost 1-0 to Balkan FK in the 2013 AFC President’s Cup, making them the only Pakistani club to advance to the continental club final.

In 1995, the football squad was founded. Khan Research Laboratories participated in the 1998 National Championship and fell to Allied Bank 0–2 in the quarterfinals. After winning both of their group matches—4-1 against Pakistan Railways and 6-3 against Balochistan Red—and placing first in their group, they advanced to the National Championship semifinals the following year. They drew the match 2-2 in regulation time, but overcame Karachi Metropolitan 4-0 and Pakistan Railways 3-2 on penalties. In the semifinals, they fell to Pakistan Navy 0 to 1. Khan Research Laboratories advanced to the Round of 16 in the 2000 season after winning the group once more and defeating Punjab Greens and WAPDA 8-1 and 3-0, respectively.

They were defeated 1-0 by Karachi Port Trust, the runners-up of that season, in the Round of 16.[5] They won the group again the following season, defeating Sindh Greens 5-1 and Pakistan Police 1-0, respectively. In the second game, Sajjad from Khan Research Laboratories scored three goals in a row. With four goals by Allah Nawaz, they destroyed University Grants Commission 6-0 in the round of 16. They won 3-2 against Allied Bank in the quarterfinals and 2-1 against Pakistan Police in the semifinals, where they were placed in their group. In the finals, Khan Research Laboratories drew 1-1 with WAPDA, but ultimately lost 4-3 due to penalties.

Defending their group lead for a record fourth season in a row, Khan Research Laboratories defeated University Grants Commission 5-1 and drew 1-1 with Sindh Red in 2002. They won 1-0 over Balochistan Green in the Round of 16. In the quarterfinals, Khan Research Laboratories defeated Federally Administered Tribal Areas 2–1, however in the semifinals, they were defeated 1-0 by Pakistan Army.

Conclusion

We’ve come to the conclusion that Pakistan’s sporting culture is deeply ingrained with a passion for football, based on our investigation of the best football clubs in the nation. Every team on this list captivates fans and aficionados alike with its own history, skill, and passion on the field. Pakistani football is still evolving, thanks to the commitment and passion of its players, coaches, and supporters, from the legendary history of long-standing giants to the exciting ascent of more recent competitors.

While we honor these elite clubs’ accomplishments and contributions, let us also acknowledge the larger influence they have on the growth and advancement of football in Pakistan. These top 10 football clubs in pakistan act as growth-promoting catalysts by motivating the next generation of football players and cultivating a culture of excellence and sportsmanship through their grassroots initiatives, youth programs, and community engagement.

Even though Pakistani football has faced difficulties along the way, the tenacity and fervor shown by these teams confirms the sport’s ongoing legacy in the nation. As supporters, let’s keep up the momentum and acknowledging the accomplishments of our football teams to make sure the beautiful game lives on and inspires future generations.