LAHORE: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed plans to visit Pakistan in the near future, a move widely seen as a significant boost for the country’s football revival and a strong endorsement of recent reforms within the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF).
Speaking in an interview with a local digital television platform on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Infantino said the visit had already been promised to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, underlining FIFA’s renewed engagement with Pakistan at the highest level. “I will be coming to Pakistan very soon,” Infantino said, describing the country as one with “immense footballing potential” and a passionate fan base that deserves a stronger presence on the continental and global stage.
The FIFA president praised the newly elected leadership of the PFF, commending its efforts to stabilise the sport after years of administrative turmoil. He singled out the federation’s president for doing “a fantastic job” and expressed confidence that Pakistan football was moving in the right direction. “Pakistan is a great football country,” Infantino said. “We need to bring Pakistan back to the top — to the head of Asian football. That is certainly our ambition.”
His remarks reflect FIFA’s growing belief that Pakistan can reclaim its place in regional football through sustained governance reforms, infrastructure development, and grassroots investment. According to Infantino, FIFA is actively working with local authorities and football stakeholders to support long-term growth and institutional stability.
Pakistan’s engagement with world football’s governing body has accelerated noticeably over the past year. In December 2025, Pakistani parliamentarian Syeda Amnah Batool was appointed to FIFA’s Institutional Reforms Committee, a significant milestone that enhanced Pakistan’s representation within global football governance structures.
Earlier, in November 2025, FIFA Senior Vice President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa paid a three-day visit to Pakistan, holding extensive discussions with PFF officials and government representatives. Those talks focused on governance reforms, infrastructure development, and strategic planning aimed at restoring credibility and competitiveness to Pakistan football.
These developments point to FIFA’s increasing confidence in Pakistan’s football direction, particularly under the leadership of PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani, whose tenure has been marked by efforts to strengthen institutional transparency and rebuild trust with international bodies.
