TTS Report :
The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) on Wednesday formally unveiled its FIFAe programme, with PFF President Mohsen Gilani confirming that Pakistan has entered the FIFAe Nations League, marking the country’s first official participation in FIFA’s global football esports ecosystem.
Flanked by PFF Vice President Hafiz Zakaullah and newly-appointed eFootball Manager Shahzeb Raza, President Gilani described the move as a direct opportunity for Pakistani youth to showcase their talent on an international platform while also being able to generate income through the digital frontier.
“Since becoming President of the Pakistan Football Federation, I have made one commitment to myself: to take every step for the promotion of football in Pakistan and its recognition at the international level that no one has taken before. Insha’Allah, the day is not far when Pakistan’s name will resonate across the football world.”
PFF Esports Manager Shahzeb Raza briefed the media on the programme’s structure, confirming that Pakistan’s initial national eFootball squad was selected on merit following formal nationwide trials. A new round of trials is now underway to further develop and expand the national player pool.
“Esports opens up a new avenue for income generation for our young people,” said Raza. “For example, even if you aren’t playing the game, there are ample opportunities to become content creators in this niche and earn money. Similarly international publishers will enter the arena with publication deals.”
President Gilani added that the PFF intends to mainstream FIFAe culture across Pakistan, a step that would dramatically lower the barrier to participation nationwide. He pointed to Korea Republic and Indonesia as benchmarks, noting that both countries have achieved significant success in eFootball competition. “We will, Insha’Allah, be in that same category in the days ahead,” he said.
President Gilani also highlighted the federation’s wider forward movement. The Pakistan Women’s National Team is currently competing in the FIFA Series, registering victories and showing progressive improvement in performance. The Pakistan U17 team has also recorded recent successes, which Gilani described as an encouraging sign for the domestic pipeline.
On the question of local player representation in both the national men’s and women’s squads, Gilani stated that any Pakistani talent, wherever they are in the world, is eligible to represent Pakistan. He added that a domestic talent discovery programme is in place while a professional league for Pakistani players is in the offing.
PFF Vice President Hafiz Zakaullah praised President Gilani’s efforts and described Pakistan’s participation in the FIFA Series and FIFAe as a historic achievement. He said participation in both competitions would elevate the morale of the national team at the international level.
Meanwhile, Pakistan managed to sneak into the qualifying rounds for gameweek 1, with walkovers earned Papua New Guinea and Guam. Pakistan lost narrowly to 2024 world champions Indonesia (1-0) while Myanmar beat Pakistan 2-1 and Korea Republic trounced Pakistan 4-1. Pakistan will play their knockout match against Thailand on a home-and-away basis today (April 16).
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