FIFA President Gianni Infantino announces Pakistan visit
Sports
FIFA President Gianni Infantino plans to visit Pakistan soon, praises football reforms and growing ties with FIFA, and hopes Pakistan can become a top Asian team
DEVOS (Dunya News) - FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced plans to visit Pakistan in the near future as part of efforts to promote football in the country.
Speaking in an interview in Davos, Infantino said he had already promised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that he would travel to Pakistan soon.
Infantino praised recent developments within the Pakistan Football Federation, noting that a new president has taken charge and is doing commendable work.
He described Pakistan as a country with great potential in football and expressed his desire to see Pakistan emerge as one of Asia’s leading teams, adding that FIFA is actively working toward that goal.
Relations between Pakistan and FIFA have continued to strengthen over time. Last month, FIFA appointed Pakistani legislator Syeda Amina Batool to its Institutional Reforms Committee, reflecting growing cooperation between the two sides.
Earlier, FIFA Senior Vice President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa visited Pakistan in November 2025. During his three-day visit, he held meetings with football officials and government representatives, focusing on the development of football infrastructure in the country.
Football has long been popular among Pakistani youth, and interest at the grassroots level has increased in recent years due to rising engagement in international competitions. Local tournaments, school-level events, and community clubs in major cities have further boosted enthusiasm for the sport, although football continues to operate under the shadow of cricket, Pakistan’s most dominant and commercially successful sport.
