Sports Bulletin

Islamabad (Sports Desk): Brazil continue to set the pace in both the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Ranking and the FIFA Futsal Men’s World Ranking. The September 2026 edition sees no changes to either top ten, but there is movement further down both tables following a summer of international friendlies.In the women’s ranking, Brazil remain ahead of Spain in second and Portugal in third. Croatia made the strongest advance, climbing three places to 32nd. They also collected more ranking points than any other women’s team during the period, gaining 15.6.Serbia experienced the largest drop by position, falling three places to 59th. The women’s ranking now comprises 95 teams, with no new entrants in this edition.Brazil also retain top spot in the men’s ranking, followed by Portugal and Spain. Zambia made the biggest climb by position, rising four places to 82nd, while Vietnam earned the most ranking points of any men’s team (19.5) and moved up two places to 20th.Montenegro fell 13 places to 74th, the largest drop in the men’s table. No teams have entered the ranking for the first time in September.

Islamabad (Sports Bulletin Report): Pakistan Football Federation president Syed Mohsen Gilani met FIFA president Gianni Infantino during the United Nations General Assembly Week in New York on Thursday, with several topics coming under discussion.Most notably, Infantino was impressed by Gilani’s vision to develop football across Pakistan whilst also confirming that he will be travelling to Pakistan for the inauguration of the FIFA Arena.Infantino appreciated the steps taken by Gilani since he was elected PFF chief 15 months ago and hailed the achievements of the Pakistan national teams during that time. The FIFA president also stressed that the PFF should push for constitutional amendments to bring its statutes in line with FIFA and AFC.Infantino reassured Gilani of FIFA’s full backing with the future of the game in Pakistan also coming under discussion. Continued collaboration between the global football body and the PFF was ensured as well as ways to provide the country’s youth with greater opportunities to play and experience the game.As infrastructure development continues at an unprecedented pace, Infantino assured he will be visiting the country for the inauguration of the FIFA Arena. Gilani thanked Infantino and FIFA for their confidence and support, saying the backing of world football’s governing body would further strengthen the PFF’s efforts to develop the sport across Pakistan. He said his vision is to build a strong, inclusive and sustainable football structure, with particular emphasis on grassroots programmes, youth development, talent identification and creating international opportunities for young Pakistani players.“Our aim is to take football to every corner of Pakistan, empower our youth and create a pathway through which talented players can represent Pakistan at the highest level,” Gilani said, reaffirming his commitment to working closely with FIFA and other stakeholders to promote and develop the sport.Infantino also extended his best wishes to the PFF and Pakistan team for the ongoing FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, while looking ahead to the upcoming FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026.

Sports NewsBANDUNG (Indonesia): Pakistan head coach Nolberto Solano and captain Abdullah Iqbal said they were looking forward to the challenge as the Shaheens made their final preparations for their FIFA ASEAN Cup opener against Thailand on Friday.The match, which will begin at 4:00pm (2:00pm PST) on Saturday, will be the first game for the Pakistan men’s football team in an official FIFA tournament with the event offering and opportunity for Solano’s men to compete against teams much higher than them in the FIFA rankings.“We want to use this opportunity to test ourselves against teams like Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam,” Solano said at the pre-match press conference. “It’s an honour to be here and we know it will be a tough competition.”Pakistan come into the tournament on a high after winning the Diamond Jubilee International Tournament in the Maldives back in June — their first standalone football tournament title in 74 years. The FIFA ASEAN Cup, though, will offer a sterner test.“All our opponents will be very tough and they have fantastic players,” said Solano. “Asian football has been getting better and better so it is a big test for us. We are slowly growing, we try to go step by step. We will try to prove ourselves as a national team and see how far we can go in this competition.For skipper Abdullah, the tournament is an opportunity for the players to step up. “It is a great opportunity for us to compete against teams at another level,” said Abdullah. “We will try to give our best.”Ahead of the press conference, Pakistan held an official training session with the squad having been joined by Azerbaijan-based defender Easah Suliman.

Islamabad (Sports Reporter): The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has announced that the PFF U-17 Championship 2026 will be held in Islamabad from 23 September to 4 October 2026.The championship will bring together provincial and regional teams from across Pakistan, providing young players with an opportunity to compete at the national level and gain valuable competitive experience.Each participating team will comprise 23 players and five officials.The championship forms part of the PFF’s ongoing efforts to revive and strengthen domestic football, expand opportunities for young players, and build a stronger pathway for youth development across Pakistan.The PFF will bear all expenses related to the participation of the teams, as well as the other costs associated with organising the championship.

Islamabad (Sports Reporter): The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has announced a 23-member Pakistan national team squad for the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 in Indonesia.The squad brings together players travelling from Pakistan as well as members of the national team based abroad.Head coach Nolberto Solano will lead the Shaheens as they compete in the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup, which brings together teams from across the ASEAN region.23-member squad:Yousuf Butt, Hassan Ali, Saqib Hanif, Abdullah Shah, Abdul Rahman, Ali Khan, Ali Agha, Hayyan Khattak, Ali Uzair, Alamgir Ghazi, Ali Raza, Abdul Samad Arshad, Kaleem Ullah, Shayek Dost, Abdullah Iqbal, Easah Suliman, Mohib Ullah, Mamoon Khan, Mohd Fazal, Haris Zeb, Umer Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Ali KhanThe FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 will provide Pakistan with an opportunity to compete on a new international platform and further strengthen its preparations against teams from the ASEAN region.

RIYADH (Sports News): Following a historic promotion to the top tier of Saudi football, Diriyah Club have announced their arrival in the Roshn Saudi League (RSL) with a strong statement of intent, both on the pitch and in the transfer market.To equip themselves for the demands of the RSL, the Diriyah-based outfit strengthened their squad impressively and appointed an elite manager in Bruno Lage, a Primeira Liga title winner in Portugal with Benfica who has also coached Wolverhampton Wanderers in the English Premier League.Headline additions to the team include Uruguay international, and former Liverpool striker, Darwin Nunez on loan from Al Hilal, French midfielder Enzo Millot on loan from AFC Champions League Elite holders Al Ahli, and ex-Everton and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye following his summer exploits with Senegal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.The early signs have been encouraging: Diriyah Club have won three and drawn two of their opening seven RSL matches to head into the international break eighth in the table.A key part of their promising start to the season has been the quality and experience of midfielder Gueye, with Senegal’s record appearance-maker determined to bring his leadership and mentality to his new club.Gueye, 36, told the Saudi Pro League: “Throughout my career, I've had to face tough competition, good times as well as bad times. With my experience, I can help the team achieve its goals. But leadership isn't just about saying the right words, it's a behaviour you must show both on and off the pitch. With the help of my teammates, we will do good things and try to take the club as far as possible.”Gueye arrived in the RSL following a trophy-laden career at club and international level. A three-time Ligue 1 winner with Lille and PSG, he was integral to Senegal’s run the final of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations. In 2022, Gueye was awarded the Grand Officer of the National Order of the Lion, Senegal’s highest recognition.Yet, after 15 years competing at the elite level of European football, Gueye welcomed the opportunity of a fresh challenge in Saudi football.He said: “I felt it was the right time for me because the club has a great project. It's a historic club that has a very close relationship with the history of the Kingdom and its identity. So, it was the right time for me to come here, with the Roshn Saudi League having welcomed many great players, great coaches, and many big personalities.”Leading Gueye and his Diriyah Club teammates is a manager who also knows what it takes to succeed. Installed in July, Lage is now tasked with delivering on the club’s ambitions - and it’s a responsibility the Portuguese is fully embracing.Lage told the Saudi Pro League: “It was a great honour to accept His Highness Prince Khalid bin Mohammed’s offer to join this project and build the foundations of the club.“When I heard about this project, I was sure it was the right step for my career. With my experience, and with the experience of the squad from what they have achieved in the past two years, we are here to improve every area and, ultimately, be the best club we can be.“We know we have a deep history and identity behind us, but at the same time, we have a great vision and ambition in front of us. We are working very hard to build a team that inside the pitch represents the real values of Diriyah.”The cultural and historical significance of the club is certainly recognised by those on the pitch. A hero in last season’s promotion charge, Saudi midfielder Hussain Al Qahtani believes representing Diriyah provides unique motivation as his team adapts to the demands of the RSL.Al Qahtani said: “It is an immense feeling of pride to represent Diriyah Club. Diriyah is the birthplace and origin of Saudi Arabia - a place of deep significance for every Saudi citizen. Because of that heritage, there is a massive responsibility on everyone who represents this club and this ecosystem, and we are determined to rise to that challenge.“Our goals have always been big. We achieved our first objective by earning promotion to the Roshn Saudi League. Now, our focus is on taking things step by step, building on our momentum, and securing strong results in the top flight this season.“As players, we have to stay resilient. Success doesn't come without setbacks, injuries, or difficult moments. The key is never to give up, focus on the fundamentals, and set a high standard that inspires the younger generation coming through behind us.”

Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: The Pakistan national minifootball team outclassed India 5-0 here in a fixture of the Asian Mini-Football Championship 2026 by showing excellent game.Pakistan had a difficult start to the championship, losing its opening group-stage matches against UAE, Syria and Uzbekistan. However, the team responded strongly, securing a 3-2 victory over Japan before completing an impressive 5-0 win against arch rival India.Despite the early defeats, Pakistan displayed good ball possession and attacking intent throughout its matches. The team created several opportunities but was unable to convert its dominance into goals in the opening games. The victories over Japan and India demonstrated the team's ability to recover and compete strongly at the championship.Mubasher Sanjrani, President of the Pakistan Minifootball Federation, who was also appointed Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee for the championship, praised the team's performance and said said that the team's overall performance was encouraging, but the losses in the initial group matches affected Pakistan's progress in the competition.He noted that the players continued to perform well and showed determination to come back strongly, culminating in victories over Japan and India.He also expressed his gratitude to all the sponsors for their support and collaboration with the Pakistan national minifootball team.Minifootball is gaining popularity among young people in Pakistan. The sport is a small-sided format of football, with six players representing each team, making it an accessible and fast-paced version of the game.The Pakistan team's victories over Japan and India have provided a positive conclusion to its campaign in Jakarta and highlighted the growing interest and potential of minifootball in Pakistan.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (PR): Saudi Pro League (SPL) has launched an innovative new international distribution model that will take live Roshn Saudi League (RSL) matches directly to fans across 16 markets - while enabling approved content creators, clubs, players and third-party platforms to participate in growing the league’s international audience.Marking the SPL’s entry into the rapidly expanding global creator economy, the initiative combines direct-to-consumer broadcasting through SPL-owned channels with a wider network of distribution partners, creating a new approach designed to democratise both access to the RSL and participation in its international growth.Through the new model, fans in selected markets will be able to watch live RSL matches on a pay-per-view basis directly through SPL-owned channels, or receive free, brand-sponsored access in exchange for an agreed action, such as registering or engaging with the sponsoring brand.  RSL players and approved content creators will also be able to promote individual matches and bundles across their own platforms and communities, receiving a share of the revenue they generate, while selected third-party platforms will form part of the wider distribution network. The model is powered by Recast’s monetisation and instant revenue-sharing technology.The new approach sees the SPL expand the traditional relationship between sports properties, their audiences and those who help connect them. By opening distribution to a broader range of approved partners, the league is creating opportunities for those with engaged football audiences to participate directly in expanding the RSL’s reach and share in the value they help generate.The initiative will initially be available across 16 international markets: the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Canada, New Zealand, Serbia, South Korea, Malta, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Cyprus and Greece.It represents the latest step in the SPL’s international growth strategy and provides an additional route to reach fans in markets where traditional broadcast distribution may not provide widespread access to live RSL matches.“The way people discover, consume and engage with sport is changing rapidly,” Omar Mugharbel, Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Pro League, said. “Fans are increasingly connected to competitions, clubs and players through digital platforms and the creators and communities they trust.“For generations, sports distribution has largely been a relationship between rights holders and broadcasters. Developments in technology and the growth of the creator economy give us an opportunity to add another dimension to that relationship - one in which a broader network of partners can help connect our football with fans and participate in that growth.“By democratising both access and distribution, we can bring live RSL football closer to international fans while giving approved content creators, our clubs and players, and other distribution partners a genuine stake in helping us reach new audiences.“For the SPL, this is an opportunity to innovate, learn and build new relationships with the people and platforms shaping how sport is discovered and consumed around the world. As we continue to grow internationally, we want to explore new models that bring fans and the league closer together while creating shared value as our international audience expands.”

Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) today launched its Pakistan Women’s Football Strategy 2026–2030, setting out a national framework to develop women’s football from grassroots participation to the elite level and create sustainable pathways for players, coaches, referees, administrators and leaders.Launched in Islamabad under the theme “From Paper to the Pitch,” the strategy is built around five interconnected pillars: Participation and Competitions; Player Development and High-Performance; Education and Capacity Development; Visibility, Engagement and Growth; and Governance and Leadership.The strategy builds on an existing landscape of 62 registered clubs and academies, 673 registered female players, five certified women referees and the last AFC “A” Licence coaching course for women held in 2020.PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani said the launch came at a historic moment for women’s football in Pakistan.“This is a historic year for Pakistan women’s football. Our women’s team has created history by participating in a FIFA event, and the women’s team is now ranked higher than the men’s team,” he said. “To all the players, coaches and staff who made this possible, everyone deserves our congratulations.”Gilani said the strategy centred on three priorities: improving national team performance, investing in youth development, and creating a broader ecosystem for women’s football.“We need to produce players, but we also need coaches, referees, managers and leaders,” he said. “It is my pledge that we want to create an ecosystem for women’s football where they can become whatever they want to be within the game.”He also highlighted the emphasis on women’s training through the PFF’s recent Football for Schools programme and the appointment of a woman as the federation’s safeguarding officer.Presenting the strategy, Head of Women’s Football Mejzgaan Orakzai said its central ambition was to establish a connected pathway allowing girls to enter football at grassroots level and progress towards the national team.“At its heart, this strategy is about developing women’s football from grassroots to the elite level,” Orakzai said. “The existing landscape is challenging, but there are great opportunities for growth. This is not about starting from zero; it is about building upon and strengthening what already exists.”The strategy proposes expanded grassroots and youth competitions alongside a tiered national, provincial and district women’s league structure, supported by a comprehensive player registration system and a national talent identification framework.“The pathway has to begin with access,” Orakzai said. “We want more girls playing football in schools, clubs and academies, more regular competitions, and a system that can identify talent wherever it exists.”Under its Player Development and High-Performance pillar, the strategy proposes Regional Training Centres, national youth programmes and a Women’s National Team High-Performance Framework, with regular international exposure for youth teams and at least 10 international matches annually for the senior national team.“High performance cannot be separated from the development system beneath it,” Orakzai said. “We need to identify players earlier, monitor their progression and provide them with the coaching, competition and support they need to reach the highest level.”The Education and Capacity Development pillar includes a national women’s coach education pathway, referee development programmes and leadership opportunities for women. It targets the training and certification of at least 250 female coaches across four regions and an increase in registered female referees to 100.The strategy also seeks to raise the profile and commercial appeal of women’s football through outreach, marketing, communications, media partnerships and fan engagement, with programmes designed to reach at least 2,000 girls annually across the four regions.Its Governance and Leadership pillar focuses on greater representation of women in leadership, stronger monitoring and reporting, club and league professionalisation, and enhanced safeguarding and player welfare.PFF Chief Operating Officer Shahid Khokhar said strategic planning was about aligning ambition with reality.“As a student of strategic planning, it is important to create a plan that aligns your dreams and ambitions with reality,” he said.PFF Technical Director Adeel Rizki said: “Youth football is very critical. What happens over the next three years will depend greatly on what happens with the youth,” Rizki said. “With proper planning and execution, we can have a very robust national system.”Coordinator to the Prime Minister for the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination Syeda Mehreen Sajid welcomed the creation of a clear pathway while emphasising the need to reach talent beyond major cities.“Building a pathway is amazing, because we can then see a plan and a direction,” she said. “I am hoping that you will cater to smaller towns as well as the bigger cities, because some amazing talent is hiding there.”Looking towards 2030, the strategy envisions more girls participating in football, more players, coaches and referees entering the system, greater opportunities for women in leadership, and a football environment that is accountable, professional and safe.The strategy’s mission is to develop women’s football into one of the leading sports for females in Pakistan while creating a comprehensive structure that nurtures talent from grassroots to elite level.

162,000 footballs to be distributed among students, Scheme to kick off in January 2027Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Football Federation has formally launched the FIFA Football for Schools programme in Pakistan, targeting three million students through 3,000 public schools as part of an ambitious strategy to expand grassroots participation and establish a stronger football culture across the country.More than 50 master trainers have completed their training under the guidance of FIFA instructors led by Antonio Buenano Sanchez, Senior Football for Schools Manager at FIFA. The launch event brought together senior PFF officials and representatives of FIFA, the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme and UNESCO.Speaking at the press conference, PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani said the target of reaching three million students through 3,000 schools was a conservative estimate, with the PFF intending to expand well beyond those numbers. As part of the rollout, 162,000 footballs will be distributed across the schools.Acknowledging that infrastructure remains one of the biggest challenges facing football in Pakistan, Gilani said the programme was being introduced through public schools. FIFA developed the criteria for selecting schools and teachers, while school identification was carried out with the PFF’s partners, including the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme and UNESCO.Gilani also underlined the role of teachers in making the initiative sustainable, describing them as new stakeholders, custodians and ambassadors for football in their communities. “Today is the last day of your course. Tomorrow is the first day of your mission,” he told the teachers and master trainers.Antonio Buenano Sanchez, Senior Football for Schools Manager at FIFA, said the programme had the potential to have a “massive” impact on Pakistan’s youth.Football for Schools has already benefited 154 countries, Sanchez said, with Pakistan now set to use a cascading model in which the more than 50 master trainers return to their districts and train additional teachers. This could create a network of around 450 trainers in a short period.FIFA will also provide educators access to the Football for Schools app in Urdu.“Talent is everywhere,” Sanchez said, stressing that children from every part of Pakistan should have the opportunity to develop their potential. With the right opportunities, he said, some could go on to represent Pakistan in the future.“But this needs the right processes, the right systems,” he added, reaffirming FIFA’s commitment to building those systems with the PFF.For PFF Chief Operating Officer Shahid Khokhar, the programme represents an opportunity to establish a stronger football culture in Pakistan and grow the country’s fan base, creating greater potential for the commercialisation and sustainability of the game.PFF Technical Director Adeel Rizki said the trained teachers had been empowered to return to their districts and train others, with the current rollout representing only the first stage.“This is the first stage, and we will slowly but surely increase the number of schools and districts that we are looking to bring into the programme,” Rizki said.He said the next major step would be the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS), scheduled to launch in January 2027, which will introduce a structured system for identifying and developing age-group talent emerging from initiatives such as Football for Schools.Fuad Pashayev, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative in Pakistan, said football could be a powerful tool for youth development and social change, helping cultivate mental resilience and a sense of belonging. UNESCO will work with the PFF in 15 districts, using football to engage young people and promote social change.Andrei Vashkevich, Senior Member Associations Development Manager at FIFA’s Dubai Office, said Football for Schools was designed to establish the foundations of a country’s football system through mass participation at grassroots level. He welcomed the revival of football activity in Pakistan and reaffirmed FIFA’s commitment to supporting the country’s football development.Syeda Amna Batool, MNA and Focal Person for the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, stressed the role of sport in developing children beyond the classroom and called for the programme to be genuinely inclusive, particularly by ensuring girls have opportunities to participate and develop through football.Through Football for Schools, children across Pakistan will have the opportunity to develop not only footballing ability but also confidence, resilience, friendship and leadership, while the programme lays the foundations for a broader and more sustainable football ecosystem.