First Pakistani footballer to play UEFA Women’s Champions League
Wrexham forward makes history with appearances in club’s first European campaign, adding another milestone for Pakistani women’s football
KARACHI, Pakistan (MNTV) — Pakistan forward Mariam Mahmood has become the first footballer from the country to feature in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, making history during Wrexham AFC Women’s maiden European campaign.
The 22-year-old represented the Welsh club in the first qualifying round, which began with a 4-2 victory over Armenian champions FC Pyunik on July 22 at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground.
Mahmood started the match as Wrexham recovered from an early deficit to secure a landmark win. Katie Barker, Lili Jones, Ava Suckley and Natasha Thomas scored for the Welsh side, making Wrexham the first Welsh women’s club to win a match in European competition.
The victory sent Wrexham into the final of the four-team qualifying mini-tournament, where they faced Latvian champions Riga FC on July 25.
Wrexham took a 1-0 lead into halftime but conceded four unanswered goals after the break as Riga claimed a 4-1 victory to advance to the next qualifying round.
The defeat ended Wrexham’s Champions League campaign, with only the mini-tournament winner progressing.
Despite the elimination, the campaign marked a historic achievement for Mahmood and Pakistani football. She appeared in both of Wrexham’s European matches, becoming the first Pakistani footballer to play in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
The European milestone follows a successful domestic season for Mahmood.
In March 2026, she became the first Pakistani female footballer to win a European top-flight league title after helping Wrexham capture the Adran Premier championship for the first time in the club’s history.
Mahmood played a key role in the title-winning campaign, scoring 10 goals and providing two assists as Wrexham qualified for European competition.
She joined Wrexham from West Bromwich Albion Women, where she progressed through the club’s academy and made more than 80 first-team appearances.
Born in Dudley, England, Mahmood later chose to represent Pakistan internationally. She made her senior debut in 2025 during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers and scored twice in Pakistan’s 2-1 victory over Kyrgyzstan.
Mahmood is also Wrexham’s first British-Pakistani and first Muslim player.
Although Wrexham did not advance beyond the opening qualifying stage, the campaign proved historic for both the club and Mahmood, with Wrexham recording its first European victory and the Pakistan international becoming the first player from her country to compete in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
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