Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) President Mohsen Gilani met top FIFA and AFC officials during the FIFA Executive Summit 2025 in Miami, where discussions focused on international support for Pakistan’s football development.
In a key meeting, the PFF president sat down with FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström, who assured full backing from world football’s governing body for Pakistan’s footballing revival. Grafström reaffirmed FIFA’s commitment to help Pakistan build both on-field and off-field infrastructure needed for the sport to thrive, including capacity building and technical development.
Gilani also held talks with FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger. While details weren’t disclosed, the meeting signaled interest in technical collaboration, particularly in grassroots and youth development—areas the former Arsenal boss now oversees globally.
On the Asian front, AFC President and FIFA Senior Vice President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa also held a meeting with the PFF head. The two discussed regional cooperation and AFC’s continued technical support for Pakistan, particularly in nurturing young talent and revamping domestic structures.
Alongside these engagements, Gilani also connected with football leaders from Sri Lanka and Bhutan, including FFSL President Jaswar Umar and BFF General Secretary Ugyen Wangchuk, furthering efforts for regional collaboration.
The meetings in Miami mark a significant step in the new PFF leadership’s outreach on the global stage, as they look to revive Pakistan football following a decade marred by infighting, bans, and missed opportunities.
With international support pledged, the challenge now lies in translating goodwill into tangible progress at home.