Pakistan had supplied hand-stitched Footballs for most of the World Cups from the 1990s to 2010. The Pakistani city of Sialkot lies at the heart of worldwide production of footballs. Some 40 million balls are made here every year.
Why is Pakistan one of the leading supplier of footballs for FIFA?
Pakistan has been one of the leading suppliers of footballs for FIFA for many years. The country’s vast population and large number of sportswear manufacturing companies make it an ideal candidate for supplying FIFA with the large quantities of footballs they need for their tournaments.
Pakistan’s football manufacturing industry began to take off in the 1970s, when a number of small companies began to produce footballs for the local market. These companies quickly began to gain a reputation for producing high-quality footballs, and as the demand for Pakistani footballs increased, so did the country’s production capacity. By the 1990s, Pakistan was supplying footballs to major European football clubs and to FIFA itself.
Sialkot-made Footballs
Sialkot is a city in Pakistan that is responsible for the production of millions of footballs each year. The city is home to a large number of factories and businesses that make footballs, and it employs a significant number of workers in this industry. Footballs made in Sialkot are shipped all over the world, and the city is a major supplier of this popular sport.
A leading sports manufacturer from Sialkot, asking not to be identified, told ET that Adidas picked Pakistan over China for FIFA 2018 to manufacture the match balls. Adidas has supplied the official match ball for all FIFA World Cup matches since 1970.
Today, Pakistan is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of footballs, and its companies produce over 50% of the football used by FIFA.
FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar
Sialkot-based leading exports firm “Forward Sports” had produced “Al Rihla” for Adidas which would be played officially in FIFA football World Cup-2022 as it was a great honour and pride for Sialkot and even for Pakistan.
It was third time that the brand of ‘Forward Sports’ would be used in the FIFA World Cup.
UEFA Champions League Final
The match football for the men’s UEFA Champions League final between six-time champions Liverpool and record 13-time champions Real Madrid was proudly “Made in Pakistan”.
It should be mentioned that football manufactured in Sialkot, Pakistan, have previously been used in FIFA World Cups and UEFA club championships.
FIFA World cup 2018 in Russia
Telstar 18, the official game ball of the 2018 FIFA World Cup manufactured by a company in Sialkot, Pakistan has brought the country’s football production industry to the limelight.
Pakistan delivered 38 million balls for $154 million ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, despite their FIFA rating of 198.
FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil
The Adidas Brazuca was the official match ball of the 2014 FIFA World Cup made in Pakistan.
