AFZAL JAVED

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has taken a significant leap in grassroots football development as work officially begins on the country’s first FIFA Arena pitch in Lahore. The landmark project, initiated by the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), marks a new era in expanding access to modern football facilities at the community and school level.

The state-of-the-art mini football pitch is being installed at a government school in Lahore’s Sabzazar locality as part of a wider collaboration between the PFF, FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and public sector institutions. Designed as a standardized, high-quality playing surface, the FIFA Arena aims to make football accessible in schools, neighborhoods, and public spaces across the country.

PFF President Mohsen Gilani termed the initiative a milestone achievement, reflecting Pakistan’s growing engagement with international football bodies. “Football must be accessible to every child. As custodians of the game in Pakistan, it is our commitment to ensure opportunities for all,” he said, adding that the Lahore pitch is just the beginning of a nationwide rollout.

Gilani confirmed that a second FIFA Arena pitch will soon be developed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while two such pitches have already arrived in Pakistan under the ongoing infrastructure drive. He further revealed that 11 FIFA Arena pitches have been approved for the country, with an additional 15 pitches requested to expand the programme’s reach.

The initiative has gained momentum through high-level coordination between Pakistan’s football leadership and global governing bodies. AFC President Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa had earlier assured full support for Pakistan’s football infrastructure plans, a commitment also backed by the Government of Pakistan, which has pledged facilitation including partnerships with public schools.