2026 National Challenge Cup
Football tournament season
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The 2026 National 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]
| National Challenge Cup | |
|---|---|
| Tournament details | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Dates | 4 – 15 February |
| Teams | 12 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | WAPDA |
| Runners-up | Khan Research Laboratories |
| Third place | SA Gardens |
| Fourth place | Pakistan Army |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Top goal scorer | Syed Ali Raza (6 goals) |
| Awards | |
| Best player | Waqar Baloch |
| Best goalkeeper | Hassan Ali |
All statistics correct as of 15 February 2026. | |
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]
- Khan Research Laboratories
- WAPDA
- Pakistan Air Force
- Pakistan Navy
- Pakistan Army
- Hazara Coal Company
- NIMSO
- Pak Afghan Clearing Agency
- SA Gardens
- Mamsons
- Pakistan Railways
- International Supply Company
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 |
| Pakistan Navy | 0–1 | Pakistan Air Force |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Pakistan Air Force | 1–2 | Mamsons |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Mamsons | 0–0 | Pakistan Navy |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
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 |
| Khan Research Laboratories | 3–0 | Hazara Coal |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Hazara Coal | 0–5 | WAPDA |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
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 |
| Pakistan Army | 1–1 | Pakistan Railways |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Pakistan Railways | 0–1 | International Supply Company |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| International Supply Company | 0–2 | Pakistan Army |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
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 |
| SA Gardens | 1–1 | Pak Afghan Clearing Agency |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Pak Afghan Clearing Agency | 0–2 | NIMSO |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| NIMSO | 0–1 | SA Gardens |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
Knockout round
Quarter-finals
| Mamsons | 0–2 | Khan Research Laboratories |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Najeebullah  41'Moin Ahmed 79' |
| WAPDA | 3–0 | Pakistan Air Force |
|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Abdullah 5' Adnan Saeed 23'Raza 45+4' |
Report |
| Pakistan Army | 4–0 | NIMSO |
|---|---|---|
| Rafay 13', 26' Mansoor 24'Noor Saba 85' |
Report |
| SA Gardens | 1–1 | International Supply Company |
|---|---|---|
| Umar Javed 35' (pen.) |
Report | Salman Umer 73' |
| Penalties | ||
| 4–2 | ||
Semi-finals
| Khan Research Laboratories | 4–0 | Pakistan Army |
|---|---|---|
| Ali Zafar 26' Zaid Umer 47'Ali Agha 70'Sameer Abbas 83' |
Report |
| WAPDA | 4–0 | SA Gardens |
|---|---|---|
| Raza 31', 53' (pen.) Mohib Ullah  36' (o.g.)Hammad Hassan 90' |
Report |
Third position
| Pakistan Army | 2–2 | SA Gardens |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Penalties | ||
| 2–4 | ||
Final
| Khan Research Laboratories | 0–1 | WAPDA |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Sumnan Qaiser 86' |
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 |