PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi Meets FIFA President, Emphasizes Football’s Rise in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi engaged in a fruitful discussion with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, underscoring the significant potential of sports within Pakistan. The conversation highlighted the increasing appeal of football alongside the nation’s beloved cricket.

During their interaction, Naqvi highlighted Pakistan’s abundant sporting talent and the escalating enthusiasm for football. He also formally invited Infantino to visit Pakistan, an invitation the FIFA President gratefully accepted.

Naqvi shared on X (formerly Twitter), “I had a great meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino. We talked about how much potential sports have in Pakistan, especially how football is getting more and more popular after cricket. I asked him to visit Pakistan, and he kindly accepted and said he would come soon.”

This development follows a noteworthy advancement for Pakistan’s future in football.

FIFA recently revoked its suspension of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) after the PFF Congress unanimously approved constitutional changes.

According to FIFA, the suspension concluded officially on March 2, 2025, subsequent to the Congress’s approval of a revised constitution that aligns with FIFA’s governance criteria.

Shahid Khokhar, a member of the PFF Normalisation Committee, verified the decision, affirming Pakistan’s restored eligibility to compete in international football events.

The suspension had been in effect since February 6, 2025, due to the PFF’s initial reluctance to implement amendments concerning the federation’s electoral procedures.

Despite initial opposition from the newly elected PFF Congress, the organization ultimately consented to the reforms proposed by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), thus paving the way for the reinstatement.