On the sidelines of the 56th World Economic Forum, FIFA’s top leadership signaled a transformative era for football in Pakistan, announcing plans for elite academies and a renewed focus on the country’s vast, untapped sporting potential.
Wenger Proposes Academy for 250 Million
Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, identified Pakistan as a critical priority for the international football governing body. Citing the nation’s population of 250 million, Wenger emphasized that the sheer scale of the demographic requires a structured approach to talent identification.
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“Pakistan’s population means there is huge potential that we have to develop together,” Wenger stated. “I met Pakistani people to develop an academy in Pakistan because I think this is the first step, as well as to develop youth football.” Wenger also expressed his intention to visit the country to oversee these grassroots initiatives personally.
FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsène Wenger says Pakistan’s population of 250 million represents vast untapped football potential. Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital in Davos, the former Arsenal manager stressed academies and youth development as key steps, saying… pic.twitter.com/m0WUcIsm7b
— Pakistan TV Digital (@PakistanTVcom) January 22, 2026
Presidential Visit and Institutional Support
Reinforcing this commitment, FIFA President Gianni Infantino pledged to visit Pakistan “very soon,” a promise made directly to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Infantino praised the recent administrative progress within the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), specifically highlighting the leadership of new President Mohsen Gilani following the 2025 elections.
Infantino: “We need to bring Pakistan to the top of Asia for sure,” Infantino told Pakistan TV Digital. “It is a great football country, and we are working to ensure it reaches its rightful place on the global stage.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino says he will visit Pakistan soon, citing a promise to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and confidence in the country’s new football federation leadership. “Pakistan a great football country,” Infantino tells Pakistan TV Digital, saying FIFA aims to… pic.twitter.com/GRFT8k2Vhl
— Pakistan TV Digital (@PakistanTVcom) January 22, 2026
A Momentum Shift for Pakistani Football
The announcements in Davos follow a series of historic milestones for the South Asian nation:
- Competitive Progress: The men’s national team recently achieved its first-ever victory in a World Cup qualifier against Cambodia, while the women’s team secured qualification for the FIFA Series 2026.
- Diplomatic Integration: The appointment of Pakistani lawmaker Syeda Amnah Batool to FIFA’s Institutional Reforms Committee.
- High-Level Engagement: The recent visit by FIFA Senior Vice President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa to discuss infrastructure and stadium development.
While Pakistan currently holds a modest position in the FIFA rankings, the proposed academy system and the end of previous institutional suspensions signal a long-term strategy to convert Pakistan’s massive population into a competitive force in Asian football.
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