ISLAMABAD (GNP): The Pakistan Football Federation has officially launched the FIFA Football for Schools programme in Pakistan, aiming to reach three million students across 3,000 public schools as part of a broader push to grow grassroots football participation and build a stronger footballing culture nationwide.
Over 50 master trainers have already completed their training under FIFA guidance, led by Antonio Buenano Sanchez, FIFA’s Senior Football for Schools Manager. The launch ceremony brought together senior PFF officials alongside representatives from FIFA, the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, and UNESCO.
PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani, addressing the press conference, called the launch a landmark moment for football in Pakistan, stating that grassroots development would form the core of the Federation’s strategy going forward.
According to Gilani, the goal of reaching three million students in 3,000 schools is a modest starting point, with the PFF planning to scale the programme significantly beyond that. As part of the initial rollout, 162,000 footballs will be distributed to participating schools.
Gilani acknowledged that inadequate infrastructure remains one of the biggest obstacles facing football development in the country, noting that the programme is being introduced through the public school system. FIFA established the criteria for choosing participating schools and teachers, while identifying specific schools was handled in coordination with PFF partners including the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme and UNESCO.
The Federation also plans to engage District and Regional Football Associations to link schools into the broader football network.
Calling grassroots development “the backbone of football,” Gilani thanked FIFA President Gianni Infantino for his support and vision behind the initiative.
He outlined two primary goals for the programme: introducing football to schoolchildren in a country with a young, sizable population, and using the initiative as a mechanism for spotting emerging talent.
Gilani also emphasized the critical role teachers would play in sustaining the programme, describing them as new stakeholders and community ambassadors for the sport. Addressing the trainers directly, he said their training had concluded but their mission was just beginning.
FIFA’s Antonio Buenano Sanchez said the programme could have a transformative effect on Pakistani youth, noting that Football for Schools has already reached 154 countries worldwide. He explained that Pakistan would adopt a cascading training model, where the initial group of over 50 master trainers would return to their districts to train additional teachers — potentially building a network of roughly 450 trainers within a short timeframe. He added that FIFA would also provide access to an Urdu-language version of the Football for Schools app.
Sanchez stressed that talent exists in every corner of Pakistan, and that children nationwide deserve the chance to develop their abilities, with some potentially going on to represent the country at higher levels — provided the right systems and processes are in place. He reaffirmed FIFA’s commitment to helping build those systems alongside the PFF.
PFF Chief Operating Officer Shahid Khokhar described the initiative as a chance to build a stronger football culture in Pakistan and expand the sport’s fan base, which could in turn support the game’s long-term commercial viability.
PFF Technical Director Adeel Rizki noted that trained teachers are now equipped to return to their districts and train others, describing the current phase as just the beginning. He said the number of participating schools and districts would gradually expand over time.
Rizki also pointed to the upcoming FIFA Talent Development Scheme, set to launch in January 2027, which will establish a structured framework for identifying and nurturing age-group talent emerging from programmes like Football for Schools.
Fuad Pashayev, UNESCO’s Head of Office and Representative in Pakistan, said football can serve as a powerful vehicle for youth development and social change, helping build mental resilience and a sense of community. UNESCO plans to partner with the PFF across 15 districts to use football as a tool for youth engagement and social progress.
Andrei Vashkevich, FIFA’s Senior Member Associations Development Manager based in Dubai, said the Football for Schools initiative is designed to lay the groundwork for a country’s football system through mass grassroots participation. He welcomed the resurgence of football activity in Pakistan and reaffirmed FIFA’s ongoing commitment to supporting the sport’s development there.
Syeda Amna Batool, MNA and Focal Person for the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, highlighted sport’s role in shaping children beyond the classroom and called for the programme to be truly inclusive — particularly by ensuring girls have equal opportunities to participate and grow through football.
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Through this initiative, children across Pakistan stand to gain not just footballing skills but also confidence, resilience, camaraderie, and leadership qualities, laying the foundation for a more robust and sustainable football ecosystem in the country.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
