Pakistan's Jinnah Stadium is Earning Dark Distinction For Football Coaches

The Pakistan national football team’s encouraging performances have been met with growing support from fans, who have turned out in impressive numbers for home fixtures at Islamabad’s Jinnah Stadium. But while the players and supporters revel in the atmosphere, coaches may have reason to tread carefully.

In a statistically unusual and increasingly talked-about trend, a number of prominent international football coaches have lost their jobs shortly after leading their teams at Jinnah Stadium since 2023. The pattern has sparked tongue-in-cheek speculation about a so-called “Jinnah Stadium Curse”—at least where managers are concerned.

The narrative gained traction following the dismissal of Vincenzo Annese, head coach of the Afghanistan national team. His departure adds to a growing list of coaches whose tenures ended within weeks or months of a visit to Pakistan.

Here is a look at those affected by the so-called curse:

Vincenzo Annese – Afghanistan

The Italian coach was relieved of his duties recently after overseeing Afghanistan’s 0–0 draw against Pakistan at the Jinnah Stadium in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. His last game also came against Nolberto Solano’s men a 1–1 draw in Kuwait. He was dismissed shortly thereafter.

Roberto Mancini – Saudi Arabia

Perhaps the most high-profile name on the list, Mancini led Saudi Arabia to a 3–0 victory over Pakistan during the second round of World Cup Qualification in 2024. Despite the win at the Jinnah Stadium, he was dismissed on October 24, 2024, following a poor run of form.

Hussein Ammouta – Jordan

Ammouta’s team secured a 3–0 win at Jinnah Stadium on March 21, 2024, during World Cup Qualification but he chose to resign from his post in July of the same year.

Petar Šegrt – Tajikistan

The Croatian manager oversaw a commanding 6–1 win over Pakistan on November 21, 2023 and despite the result, his contract was not renewed, and he left the role in February 2024.

Félix Dalmás – Cambodia

Dalmás was the first coach to suffer the “Jinnah Stadium Curse” and the only one to lose his job following a defeat. Pakistan’s historic 1–0 win on October 17, 2023, secured their place in the next round of AFC World Cup Qualifiers and Dalmás was dismissed in September 2024 after mounting fan pressure.

While no official link exists between these coaching changes and the visits to Pakistan, the pattern is striking enough to fuel speculation. Each manager either faced the consequences of underperformance during critical qualifiers or became a casualty of administrative reshuffling. For now, the anomaly remains a curious footnote in Asian football, prompting some officials to wonder whether scheduling a match in Pakistan carries an unexpected professional risk.

Syria’s José Lana and Myanmar’s U Myo Hlaing Win are the next coaches slated to visit Jinnah Stadium. Their fates will be closely watched by an increasingly intrigued footballing community.

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