FC Porto to Open First Dragon Force Football Academy in Pakistan
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
Portuguese football club FC Porto has partnered with the Sialkot Football Academy to launch its first Dragon Force Academy in Pakistan, creating a new pathway for young footballers to access an internationally recognized training system.
The academy will be established in Sialkot and will provide young players with training based on FC Porto’s youth development methods, expertise and football philosophy.
The initiative is part of FC Porto’s wider international expansion and youth development program.
Sialkot Selected for FC Porto Academy
The Sialkot Football Academy is a major project of Forward Sports, a Sialkot-based sports manufacturer known for producing FIFA World Cup match balls and footballs used in other international competitions.
Through the new partnership, FC Porto will provide training support for young players while also contributing to the development of local coaches and football managers.
Ricardo Frey-Ramos, FC Porto’s Director of Dragon Force Academies, said the agreement represents an important step in the club’s international development efforts.
He highlighted the opportunity to introduce FC Porto’s football methodology, values and experience to young players in Pakistan.
Pakistan to Join FC Porto’s International Academy Network
The Sialkot facility will become the club’s 11th international Dragon Force Academy.
FC Porto already operates academies in several countries, including Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Türkiye, Mozambique, India, Cape Verde and Cyprus.
With the addition of the Sialkot academy, FC Porto’s international network will involve more than 11,000 young players. The club has also set a long-term target of reaching 40,000 young athletes worldwide by 2030.
Partnership Strengthens Pakistan-Portugal Sports Links
The Pakistan Embassy in Portugal helped facilitate the agreement between FC Porto and the Sialkot Football Academy.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Portugal, Aisha Farooqui, described the initiative as an important development for football in Pakistan. She said the academy could provide new opportunities for young footballers while also strengthening sporting relations between Pakistan and Portugal.
Haroon Sharif, President of the Pakistan Regional Economic Forum and former Minister for Investment, also contributed to bringing the two organizations together.
New Opportunities for Young Pakistani Footballers
Hassan Masood Khawaja, President of the Sialkot Football Academy and General Manager of Forward Sports, said the partnership marks a new phase for youth football development in Pakistan.
The collaboration is expected to give promising players access to structured training and international football development practices, helping them work toward higher levels of the sport.
The launch of the Dragon Force Academy also expands FC Porto’s footprint in Asia and adds Pakistan to its growing international youth football network.
