Pakistan's national team players have been given visas for India, officials said, where they will take on the hosts Wednesday in their first match on Indian soil since 2014.
The South Asian neighbors will kick off the South Asia Football Federation Championship.
The two countries rarely play home matches against each other in any sport due to long-running political tensions made worse by the Mumbai terror attacks of 2008.
@equipedefrance's win in their last outing this season follows their 3-0 defeat of minnows @GibraltarFA last Friday and leaves them clear on top of qualifying Group B with 12 points from four games@EURO2024 @FIFAcom @KMbappe https://t.co/yKvnCMLhxV
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) June 20, 2023
The participation of Pakistan in the Bengaluru event has raised hopes Islamabad will take part in the International Cricket Council World Cup tournament hosted by India later this year, having earlier threatened to boycott the event.
"As devoted sportsmen, we understand the power of sports in transcending political boundaries and fostering strong relationships between nations," Pakistan captain Yousaf Butt told AFP.
He was speaking from Mauritius, where Pakistan has taken part in a four-nation event.
New Zealand did not return for the second half of the match after an incident that occurred shortly before the break with them leading 1-0 @FIFAcom #racism #football #footballracismhttps://t.co/tReMMB40Iw
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) June 20, 2023
"We will put in a worthy performance despite zero sleep and jetlag - and off the field will try to win hearts to ease the tension."
The 32-strong touring party only received their visas late Monday.
The last time Pakistan played football in India was in 2014, when they drew a two-match series, but they also faced off in the SAFF Championship in Bangladesh in 2018, with India winning 3-1.
Football is popular in both nations but dwarfed by cricket.
@BukayoSaka87 scored a hat-trick as @EnglandFootball continued their impressive march towards @EURO2024 with a 7-0 thrashing of North Macedonia at Old Trafford Monday.https://t.co/MFgNFm8XUi
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) June 19, 2023
Despite the millions in revenue bilateral cricket matches would earn, the last time they played on home soil was when Pakistan toured India for five limited-overs matches in 2012.
The eight-nation SAFF Championship kicks off Wednesday, with Pakistan in Group A alongside India, Kuwait, and Nepal, and Group B featuring Lebanon, Maldives, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.
The final is scheduled for July 4.
