The newly-elected Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) president Syed Mohsen Gilani discussed the growth of the sport in the country with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the Executive Football Summit 2025.
The PFF held its first election in ten years last month, setting the stage for a renewed focus on the growth of the sport in Pakistan. Gilani earned his international masters in management, law, and humanities of sport from the International Centre for Sports Studies in 2003, under the FIFA Masters program. He has previously been a sitting member of the FIFA Master Alumni Association board, and has contributed to FIFA studies.
“We did not have an election for quite some time, but we are here now and we are here to build football together with FIFA,” Gilani said.
Among the topics discussed was the development of women’s football and the men’s teams possibly participating in next years FIFA series. The Pakistan national women’s team has entered the AFC Women’s Asia Cup, for which they will be playing their first qualifying match on June 29 against Chinese Taipei, and the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The men’s team have previously shown their mettle by defeating Cambodia in October 2023, marking the first time the team has won a FIFA World Cup qualifier.
“I was very happy to meet the new Pakistan Football Federation President, Syed Mohsen Gilani, in Miami to understand his football development plans and how FIFA can continue to support the sport in his country,” said Infantino.
Earlier this month, the PFF was invited to join the Football for Schools programme, which seeks to promote the growth of the sport among children. As part of the initiative, FIFA will distribute 164,940 footballs to children aged 4 to 14 in primary and secondary schools around the country, as well as a one-time financial contribution of $50,000 to aid in the implementation of the programme. A team of professionals will also help to organise courses to train physical education teachers in the country.
“President Gilani brings significant experience and football management know-how to the role, and I look forward to seeing our game take positive strides under his leadership,” Infantino said.
Gilani presented Infantino with a ajrak stating that “it symbolised a long-lasted, very good friendship.”
