ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has officially stepped onto the global football esports stage as Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) unveiled its FIFAe programme on Wednesday, confirming the country’s first-ever participation in the FIFAe Nations League, a landmark moment for Pakistani gaming and football talent alike.
PFF President Mohsen Gilani, flanked by Vice President Hafiz Zakaullah and newly-appointed eFootball Manager Shahzeb Raza, announced the development with a clear message: this is not just about competition, but about opportunity, income, and international recognition.
A four-member Pakistan team will represent the country in the FIFAe Nations League, one of esports’ most prestigious international competitions that is held under the FIFA banner. https://t.co/M7RifYUE0V
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) April 14, 2026
Merit-based selection & new trials underway
PFF Esports Manager Shahzeb Raza briefed the media on the programme’s structure, confirming that Pakistan’s initial national eFootball squad was selected strictly on merit following formal nationwide trials. A new round of trials is now underway to further develop and expand the national player pool.
Raza also highlighted the income-generating potential of esports:
“Esports opens up a new avenue for income generation for our young people. For example, even if you aren’t playing the game, there are ample opportunities to become content creators in this niche and earn money. Similarly, international publishers will enter the arena with publication deals.”
Pakistan’s performance in Gameweek 1
Pakistan managed to sneak into the qualifying rounds for gameweek 1, receiving walkovers from Papua New Guinea and Guam. The team then faced stiff competition:
- Lost narrowly to 2024 world champions Indonesia (1–0)
- Myanmar beat Pakistan (2–1)
- Korea Republic trounced Pakistan (4–1)
Pakistan will play their knockout match against Thailand on a home-and-away basis today (April 16).
Gilani’s Vision: Mainstreaming FIFAe & learning from Asian benchmarks
President Gilani announced that the PFF intends to mainstream FIFAe culture across Pakistan, a step that would dramatically lower the barrier to participation nationwide. He pointed to Korea Republic and Indonesia as benchmarks, noting that both countries have achieved significant success in eFootball competition.
Beyond Esports: Women’s team, U17 success & professional league plans
Gilani also highlighted the federation’s wider progress:
- The Pakistan Women’s National Team is currently competing in the FIFA Series, registering victories and showing progressive improvement.
- The Pakistan U17 team has also recorded recent successes, signaling a strong domestic pipeline.
- A professional league for Pakistani players is in the offing.
- Any Pakistani talent, wherever they are in the world, is eligible to represent the national men’s or women’s squads.
PFF Vice President Hafiz Zakaullah praised President Gilani’s efforts, describing Pakistan’s participation in both the FIFA Series and FIFAe as a historic achievement that will elevate the morale of the national team at the international level.
Pakistan may have faced early defeats against world-class opponents like Indonesia and Korea Republic, but the federation’s long-term vision, combining grassroots trials, esports mainstreaming, and professional league development, signals the beginning of an unstoppable growth era for Pakistani football, both on the pitch and on the screen.
