Challenges faced by Pakistan football and possible ways out for future

Pakistan is a country famous for cricket, but many people don’t know about its long history with football. Since the early 1900s, Pakistanis have loved football, but the sport has faced many problems that have stopped it from growing.

Pakistan harbours a deep-seated passion for football that dates back to the early 20th century. Despite this enthusiasm, the development of football in Pakistan has been hampered by a confluence of challenges, ranging from administrative turmoil to infrastructural deficiencies.

There multifaceted issues afflicting Pakistani football and explores potential avenues for its resurgence.

Leadership problems

One of the biggest issues for Pakistan football is poor leadership. The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), which started in 1947, had been troubled by political fights and management problems for many years.

FIFA, the world organisation that runs football, has suspended Pakistan three times since 2017. Most recently, in February 2025, FIFA suspended the PFF because it failed to change its rules to ensure fair elections. This suspension was lifted in March 2025 after the PFF made some changes, but the damage had already been done.

FIFA had set up a special committee in 2019 to help fix these problems and hold proper elections. However, this process has been slow and difficult, with many delays. Without proper leadership, it’s hard for Pakistani football to make progress.

Financial problems

Even though the PFF gets a huge amount every year from FIFA, this money hadn’t been used well. There are many reports that players on the national team don’t get paid on time, and football activities around the country happen only occasionally.

The PFF hasn’t been good at using this money to build football fields, train players, or create strong leagues. Without proper use of funds, football in Pakistan can’t improve.

Despite receiving substantial funding from FIFA under the FIFA Forward 3.0 programme, the PFF has struggled to utilise these resources effectively.

Poor facilities and training

Pakistan doesn’t have enough good football fields, training centres, or qualified coaches. This is especially true in rural areas, where most people don’t have access to sports facilities.

Unlike cricket, which has the popular Pakistan Super League (PSL), football doesn’t have a regular professional league. The Pakistan Premier League has been held irregularly, which means players don’t get enough chance to play competitive matches. Without regular games, players can’t improve their skills.

Living in cricket’s shadow

In Pakistan, cricket is the most popular sport by far. It gets most of the media attention, fan support, and business sponsorships. Football gets much less coverage on TV and in newspapers, which means fewer companies want to sponsor it.

This creates a difficult situation: Without media coverage, football can’t attract sponsors; without sponsors, the sport can’t grow; and without growth, media won’t cover it more.

Cultural barriers

In some parts of Pakistan, there are cultural barriers that make it hard for people, especially women, to play sports. This limits the talent pool for football and makes it harder to develop the sport across the whole country.

However, there are signs of change. The Gilgit-Baltistan Girls Football League started in 2018 by sisters Karishma and Sumaira Inayat, has given girls aged 14-21 from different villages a chance to play football. This has helped challenge traditional ideas and promote equality in sports.

International performance

Because of all these problems, Pakistan’s national football team hasn’t performed well internationally. The team rarely gets to play in major tournaments, and this has caused Pakistan’s ranking in world football to drop.

However, there have been some positive moments. In the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, Pakistan managed to win a historic match against Cambodia. Also, some young Pakistani players like Otis Khan and Harun Hamid have found success playing for clubs in England. These examples show that Pakistani players have talent, but they need better support and opportunities.

Signs of hope

Despite all these challenges, there are reasons to be hopeful about the future of football in Pakistan.

FIFA lifted its suspension in March 2025, which means Pakistan can participate in international football again.

Grassroots initiatives like the Gilgit-Baltistan Girls Football League are helping develop new talent.

There’s growing awareness about the need to improve football in Pakistan.

What needs to be done

For football to grow in Pakistan, several important steps need to be taken:

Fix the leadership: The PFF needs to hold fair elections and create a stable, transparent leadership.

Use money wisely: The funds from FIFA should be used to build facilities, train coaches, and support players.

Build better facilities: More football fields, training centers, and academies need to be built across the country.

Create a strong league: Pakistan needs a regular professional football league, similar to the Pakistan Super League in cricket.

Increase media coverage: More TV and newspaper coverage would help football become more popular.

Support women’s football: More programmes and leagues for women would help develop the sport and challenge cultural barriers.

Develop youth programs: Schools and local communities should have programs to identify and train young football talent.

Pakistan has a rich football history and many passionate fans. With the right leadership, proper funding, better facilities, and more support, football in Pakistan could flourish. The recent lifting of FIFA’s suspension offers a new chance to start fresh.

By addressing these challenges and building on the positive developments, Pakistan can create a bright future for football. With time and effort, the country could become a stronger competitor in international football and give its many football fans something to cheer about.

The journey won’t be easy, but with determination and the right approach, Pakistan can overcome the obstacles and build a football programme that makes the nation proud.

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