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Just like most of its neighbours in the subcontinent, football was first introduced in Pakistan by British soldiers way back in the 19th century. With the establishment of the country, the Pakistan Football Federation also came into existence.
The national team though has struggled to find its footing in Asia. Qualification matches for FIFA World Cups and Asian Cups have so far showed the nation's difficulties in competing with the best.
However, at the regional level, Pakistan has occasionally created some waves. Twice crowned champions of the South Asian Federation Games, they shocked rivals and two-time champions India in the 2003 edition of the South Asian Championships. They finished the group with wins over Sri Lanka and Afghanistan that saw them top the table. In the semi-finals, they went out 1-0 to the Maldives, but the result has boosted the players' morale. In addition, striker Sarfraz Rasool finished as the top scorer in the tournament with four goals.
The lack of competitive matches has limited the development of the team who was considered the better footballing nations in Asia.
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