FIFA has started research into a regional tournament for Himalayan nations called the “FIFA Himalayan Cup”, which would include Pakistan as one of the five nations in the Himalayan region.
As per details, FIFA held the first round of discussions late last week and early this week during President Gianni Infantino’s visit to several South Asian countries. Infantino travelled to Bangladesh and Bhutan, which sits on the eastern edge of the Himalayas.
Nepali media reported that the tournament aims to give South Asian football a structured path for development. FIFA has not made an official decision on the cup.
The Himalayan region contains some of the highest peaks in the world. Five nations make up the region: Nepal, Bhutan, India, Pakistan and the China-Tibet region. Some also consider Bangladesh part of the Greater Himalayan region.
According to reports, organisers have decided to include the Maldives and Sri Lanka, even though neither is a Himalayan nation.
FIFA already runs regional competitions. The inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup for Southeast Asian nations took place in Indonesia and Hong Kong during the recent international break.
Pakistan and Bangladesh, both South Asian nations, took part as guest teams.
