The footballs used in the World Cup are made in the north-eastern city of Sialkot, stitched together by Pakistani hands. For decades, this has placed the country at the heart of the global game.
By Nasaybah Hussain
While millions are tuning in to watch the Fifa World Cup, Pakistan’s role in football is beginning to change.
Although Pakistan has never qualified for the World Cup, it has long been part of the tournament’s story.
The footballs used in the World Cup are made in the north-eastern city of Sialkot, stitched together by Pakistani hands. For decades, this has placed the country at the heart of the global game.
Haider Ali / PFF
A city in Pakistan has become the unlikely centre of the global football industry, producing an estimated 70 per cent of the…
A majority of the footballs used in the WC are made in a historic city situated on the river Chenab in Punjab, Pakistan. |…
For generations, Sialkot made footballs for the world. Now the hands behind the game face an uncertain future.
Die pakistanische Stadt Sialkot gilt als Hauptstadt der Fußballproduktion. 70 Prozent aller handgenähten Fußbälle weltweit werden…
Khawaja Masood Akhtar went from civil engineer to making the official FIFA World Cup ball, with every 2026 tournament match using…
The World Cup triggers a measurable uptick in Pakistan’s export of sports goods and related sectors, which remain below potential.
