ISLAMABAD, 11 September 2026 (Kamran Raja): The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has formally launched the FIFA Football for Schools programme in Pakistan, targeting three million students across 3,000 public schools as part of an ambitious initiative to expand grassroots participation and build a stronger football culture nationwide. More than 50 master trainers have completed training under FIFA instructors led by Antonio Buenano Sanchez, Senior Football for Schools Manager at FIFA. Speaking at the launch event, PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani described the initiative as a historic development for Pakistan football and said grassroots development would remain central to the Federation’s strategy. He said the target of reaching three million students was a conservative estimate and the PFF intended to expand the programme further, with 162,000 footballs to be distributed among participating schools. Gilani acknowledged infrastructure challenges in Pakistan and said the programme was being introduced through public schools, with FIFA developing criteria for the selection of schools and teachers in coordination with partners including the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme and UNESCO.
The PFF will also involve District Football Associations and Regional Football Associations to connect schools with the wider football ecosystem. FIFA’s Antonio Buenano Sanchez said the programme could have a massive impact on Pakistan’s youth, noting that Football for Schools has already benefited 154 countries. Under the cascading model, the trained master trainers will return to their districts and train additional teachers, potentially creating a network of around 450 trainers. FIFA will also provide educators with access to the Football for Schools application in Urdu. PFF Chief Operating Officer Shahid Khokhar said the programme would help establish a stronger football culture, expand the country’s fan base and create greater opportunities for the commercialisation and sustainability of the sport. PFF Technical Director Adeel Rizki said the current rollout was only the first stage and that the number of participating schools and districts would gradually increase. He announced that the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) is scheduled to launch in January 2027 to introduce a structured system for identifying and developing emerging age-group talent. UNESCO Representative in Pakistan Fuad Pashayev said football could play an important role in youth development, mental resilience, social inclusion and positive social change. Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Youth Programme focal person Syeda Amna Batool stressed the importance of making the initiative inclusive and ensuring that girls also receive opportunities to participate and develop through football. The Football for Schools programme aims to provide children across Pakistan with opportunities to develop football skills as well as confidence, resilience, friendship and leadership, laying the foundation for a broader and more sustainable football ecosystem.