Key Points
- Pakistan’s football potential praised; focus on grassroots and youth development.
- Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger highlights population and academy opportunities.
- New leadership in Pakistan football opens doors for international engagement.
ISLAMABAD: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced that he will visit Pakistan “very soon,” fulfilling a promise made to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as part of efforts to develop football in the country.
“Well, I will come to Pakistan, actually, very soon. I promised the prime minister, because we now have a new president of the federation who is doing a fantastic job,” Infantino said on the sidelines of the 56th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum summit in Davos.
Praising Pakistan’s football potential, the FIFA chief added, “Pakistan is a great football country, and we need to bring Pakistan to the head, the top of Asia, for sure. We are working on that. Give every talent a chance, especially Pakistan.”
FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsene Wenger, also highlighted Pakistan’s population and the opportunity for investment in grassroots football through academies and youth programmes.
“Look, Pakistan is a country of 250 million people, so that means there’s a huge potential that we have to develop together,” Wenger said.
He added, “I met Pakistani people to develop an academy in Pakistan because I think that is the first step, and as well to develop youth football, you know, that’s the second part of what we have to do. With such potential, you must develop your game.”
When asked about his own visit to Pakistan, Wenger said, “I don’t know,” but noted, “I have to see when I go, you know, we are 211 countries, so 365 days is very short, but I hope, I plan to go.”
Pakistan football has faced prolonged setbacks in recent years due to internal disputes and administrative challenges, which led to international isolation and repeated interventions by FIFA.
However, the establishment of a new leadership structure has restored confidence among stakeholders and paved the way for renewed international engagement.
Infantino’s planned visit is expected to further strengthen ties between FIFA and Pakistan, with discussions likely to focus on grassroots development, youth programmes, and improving football governance. Officials believe the visit could play a key role in revitalising the sport and unlocking new opportunities for Pakistani football both domestically and internationally.
