FIFA has launched its Football for Schools programme in Pakistan, aiming to reach three million students across 3,000 public schools as part of a wider push to expand grassroots participation in football.
The launch was marked by a festival in which more than 100 children took part. The closing ceremony was attended by Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) President Syed Mohsen Gilani, government representatives and a UNESCO representative, reflecting the strong institutional backing behind the initiative, which is already active in more than 150 countries.
FIFA and the PFF confirmed the launch in a joint collaboration post on Instagram.
The programme is the result of a joint effort between the PFF and the government through the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme. Their partnership with FIFA proved essential not only in making the launch possible but also in setting up the conditions needed for the programme to grow in Pakistan going forward.
As part of the rollout, 162,000 footballs will be distributed among students. To support implementation, 56 Master Trainers representing all regions of Pakistan have been trained.
Run by FIFA in collaboration with UNESCO, the programme works to make football more accessible to boys and girls worldwide by building football activities into the education system, in partnership with relevant authorities and stakeholders.
The programme will initially roll out through public schools, with schools and teachers selected according to criteria set by FIFA.
