PFF and FIFA Launch Landmark ‘Football for Schools’ Initiative to Mobilise 3 Million Pakistani Children By; Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: In a historic move to reshape the country’s sports landscape, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), in collaboration with world football’s governing body FIFA, has officially launched the Football for Schools (F4S) programme in Pakistan. The ambitious grassroots initiative sets a target of reaching over 3 million schoolchildren and distributing more than 162,000 official footballs directly to over 3,000 government schools across the nation.The landmark project aims to democratise access to sports, take football to the farthest corners of the country, and create a sustainable, long-term pathway for cultivating Pakistan’s next generation of international football talent.The official launch was unveiled during a high-profile press conference held at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, where PFF President Syed Mohsin Gilani was joined by FIFA Football for Schools Senior Programme Manager, Antonio Buenano Sanchez, who arrived in Pakistan to personally oversee the initial capacity-building phases and structural integration.A New Era for Grassroots FootballAddressing the media, PFF President Syed Mohsin Gilani emphasized that the programme marks the beginning of a structured, aggressive effort to institutionalize football within the domestic school system.”We have absolutely no shortage of football talent or passionate young people in Pakistan; what we lack is providing them with the right framework and proper opportunities,” Gilani asserted. “Our ultimate goal is to bring football back into standard school sports and establish organized, competitive school-level tournaments nationwide.”The launch acts as a crucial stepping stone to revitalize the sport domestically, establishing a reliable, long-term talent pipeline to identify and cultivate future national football stars from every single district.Capacity Building and Technological IntegrationTo ensure the programme’s long-term technical sustainability, Gilani revealed that more than 50 government school teachers have already undergone rigorous master football training. Moving forward, physical education (PE) teachers across Pakistan will receive professional training to conduct modern training drills.In a major step toward modernization, participating schools will gain access to the specialized F4S digital application and comprehensive training manuals. This technological integration will allow PE instructors to seamlessly blend structured football coaching and life skills directly into their regular school curricula. Furthermore, international coaches will be brought to Pakistan to provide elite training modules aligned with global standards.Infrastructure Boost: International-Standard ‘Centre of Excellence’In a major secondary announcement, Syed Mohsin Gilani disclosed that the PFF, in partnership with FIFA, is launching a state-of-the-art Football Centre of Excellence. Built to international benchmarks, the facility will feature two high-quality football pitches, serving as a centralized hub for youth development, high-performance training, and elite coaching clinics.FIFA Pledges Full, Unconditional SupportRepresenting global football’s governing body, FIFA’s Antonio Buenano Sanchez expressed immense confidence in the newly elected PFF leadership and its strategic vision.”The development of football in Pakistan is only at the beginning,” Sanchez noted, assuring the audience that FIFA stands fully behind the country’s football resurgence and will extend all necessary resources to expand the programme. “Football talent can emerge from any country, and Pakistan is no exception. Young people simply need the right opportunities and environment to develop their abilities.”Sanchez remarked on the palpable passion he witnessed upon his arrival, adding, “I have felt tremendous enthusiasm for football in Pakistan within just a few days of arriving.”Inclusivity and Long-Term VisionThe F4S initiative is designed to be deeply inclusive, with Sanchez emphasizing that FIFA is committed to seeing every child play. A primary focus will be placed on ensuring that young girls across Pakistan receive meaningful, equal opportunities to participate, train, and progress within the sport.Initially, the project will focus on laying down foundations through school tournaments, localized coaching clinics, and structured digital platforms. However, both FIFA and the PFF stressed that this rollout is merely the first phase of a broader, multi-year commitment to transform Pakistan into a competitive footballing nation.With the integration of infrastructure, technological tools, extensive teacher training, and massive equipment distribution, the Football for Schools programme is expected to provide an unprecedented boost to school sports, youth health, and gender inclusivity, effectively expanding the talent pool for Pakistan’s future national teams.
