Faiz Muhammad
CHARSADDA: The All Pakistan Asfandyar Wali Khan Football Tournament is set to kick off on August 20 at the Abdul Wali Khan Sports Complex in Charsadda with a vibrant opening ceremony. The tournament will be held in three phases , district, provincial, and national level and will conclude with the grand final on January 19, 2026. The chief guest of the final match will be the ANP leader and veteran politician Asfandyar Wali Khan.
This announcement was made during a press briefing by the tournament’s Chief Patron and former Special Advisor to the Chief Minister, Syed Masoom Shah Bacha of Battagram. He was accompanied by the tournament’s organizing chairman, Syed Nasir Bacha, and coordinator Jahangir Khan. They stated that this tournament is being organized to honor the lifelong services of Asfandyar Wali Khan for the rights of the Pashtun nation.
The tournament will be officially inaugurated by the Central President of Awami National Party (ANP), Aimal Wali Khan, in the evening of August 20. The first phase, scheduled from August 20 to September 20, will feature 36 registered teams from Charsadda in a knockout format.
The second phase will run from September 22 to November 25, showcasing 35 top registered teams from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This phase will be inaugurated by former Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti.
The third and final phase will be held from November 26, 2025, to January 19, 2026, at the national level. Teams from all four provinces, as well as Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and the Capital Territory of Islamabad, will participate. This phase will be inaugurated by ANP’s Provincial President Mian Iftikhar Hussain.
The final match will be played on January 19 in connection with the death anniversaries of Bacha Khan (the Peace Icon) and veteran leader Khan Abdul Wali Khan (late). Asfandyar Wali Khan himself will attend the closing ceremony as the chief guest and will distribute trophies and prizes to the winners.
All matches will be held under the official rules and regulations of the Pakistan Football Federation (FIFA-affiliated), with national-level referees officiating the games.
Masoom Shah Bacha emphasized that Abdul Wali Khan Sports Complex, being a national-standard facility, is fully equipped to host such a prestigious tournament and that all arrangements for participating players have been finalized.
He further stated that the tournament will serve as a great platform for youth to engage in football and promote a healthy sporting culture among the younger generation.
