(Sports Correspondent:Â Imran Sohail)
PFF President Engages FIFA and AFC Leaders to Boost Football Development in Pakistan
In a promising step forward for football in Pakistan, Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) President Mohsen Gilani held key meetings with top FIFA and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) officials during the FIFA Executive Summit 2025, held in Miami. The discussions centered around securing international support to accelerate the sport’s development in the country.
One of the major highlights of the summit was Gilani’s meeting with FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström, who reaffirmed FIFA’s full support for Pakistan’s football revival. Grafström emphasized the global body’s commitment to helping Pakistan improve infrastructure, technical training, and organizational capacity—both on and off the pitch.
Gilani also met with Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development and former Arsenal manager. While the exact details of the meeting were not disclosed, the discussions reportedly focused on grassroots and youth development initiatives—areas where FIFA is keen to offer long-term technical assistance.
On the regional front, Gilani engaged with AFC President and FIFA Senior Vice President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa. Their meeting focused on enhancing cooperation and technical support, with a particular emphasis on youth development and strengthening domestic football structures in Pakistan.
In addition to high-level FIFA and AFC meetings, Gilani also connected with football leaders from neighboring countries, including Jaswar Umar, President of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka, and Ugyen Wangchuk, General Secretary of the Bhutan Football Federation. These discussions aimed to promote stronger regional collaboration and mutual development.
These strategic engagements mark an important step in Pakistan’s efforts to rebuild and modernize its football framework. Under new leadership, the PFF appears committed to overcoming past setbacks and positioning Pakistani football for a brighter, more competitive future on the global stage.
