FIFA President Plans Pakistan Football Visit

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said that he will be visiting Pakistan soon, which is an indication that the world will give a second look at developing football in Pakistan. It was announced at the 56 th annual World Economic Forum in Davos when Infantino affirmed that he had already communicated his intention to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The visit proposed shows an increased trust of FIFA in the current administrative developments of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF). Infantino was also optimistic of the new leadership of the federation as he termed it as a change of direction after the years of challenges that were related to government.

I will be in Pakistan very soon. I gave the promise to the prime minister, Infantino said when he addressed the media. He commended the new PFF president by saying that the leadership has added the much-needed sanity and orientation to the federation.

Infantino also emphasized the potential of football in Pakistan, making it a great football country, and emphasizing FIFA desire in raising the status of the country in the Asian football. We must make Pakistan a top of Asia no doubt. On that we are working, said he.

The last ten years of the history of Pakistan football have been violent, and the history of the country is full of internal conflicts, stalemate in administration, and FIFA interventions. The problems resulted in the international isolation and halted development of grassroots in the country.

Nevertheless, recent changes made in the PFF have regained the confidence of the stakeholders, and now there are possibilities to re-enter the world of football associations. The visit by Infantino should also help in enhancing collaboration between FIFA and Pakistan especially in youth development, grassroots programmes, infrastructure investment, and governance reforms.

The officials of the football feel that the visit may be instrumental in enhancing the popularity of football in the country and assisting Pakistan to re-enter the regional football scene and provide a long-term platform to footballers and administrators to thrive.