In the early minutes of the match, Saleh Al-Shahri of Saudi Arabia secured a gainful position for the home team by scoring a goal in the 6th minute. Despite this early setback, the Pakistan team displayed creditable determination throughout the first half, successfully stopping any further damage.

The momentum shifted conclusively in the second half, with the home team asserting dominance right from the kickoff. Al-Shahri once again etched his name on the score sheet by converting a penalty in the 48th minute, thereby extending the lead for his side.

Although the Pakistan team displayed a spirited performance in the second half, the Saudi Arabian team, even in the absence of their defender and captain Eash Suliman, effectively saddened their attempts to make headway.

The late stages of the game saw Saudi Arabia further solidifying their lead with two additional goals. Abdul Rahman Ghareeb found the net in the 91st minute, followed by Abdullah Radif's goal in the 96th minute, ultimately resulting in a 4-0 victory margin.

This marked a historic moment for Pakistan, as it was the first time they advanced to the second round of FIFA World Cup qualifiers, having triumphed over Cambodia in the preceding round. The last encounter between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia occurred in 1978 at the latter's home ground, resulting in a decisive 6-0 defeat for Pakistan.

Placed in Group G, alongside Saudi Arabia, Pakistan is set to face challenges from Jordan and Tajikistan. The teams will engage in a home-and-away leg format, playing each opponent twice. The top two teams from the qualifying round will advance to the third round, where 18 teams will be divided into three groups.

Conversely, the bottom two teams will progress to the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers. Looking ahead, Pakistan's next FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier is slated against Tajikistan in Islamabad on November 21.