WASHINGTON (Kashmir English): FIFA President Gianni Infantino has accepted an invitation to visit Pakistan, following a meeting with Mohsin Naqvi, the country’s Interior Minister and Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The discussion, held in Washington, DC, focused on Pakistan’s sporting potential and the rising interest in football across the country.
Mohsin Naqvi, who has also overseen recent efforts to revive football governance in Pakistan, described the meeting as “excellent,” noting that Infantino expressed enthusiasm about visiting the country in the near future.
“We discussed the immense potential of sports in Pakistan – especially the growing popularity of football following cricket,” Mohsin Naqvi wrote in a post on X.
Washington DC : Had an excellent meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino. We discussed the immense potential of sports in Pakistan — especially the growing popularity of football following cricket. Extended a warm invitation to visit Pakistan, which he graciously accepted… pic.twitter.com/DB8p6yJZF8
— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) June 20, 2025
Infantino’s expected visit is a major step in strengthening Pakistan’s position on the global football stage.
FIFA formally lifted its suspension of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) earlier this year after the PFF Congress unanimously approved constitutional reforms.
The issue was resolved in March after the PFF Congress unanimously approved a revised constitution, in line with the recommendations from both FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). With the suspension lifted, Pakistan is now eligible to take part in international football competitions once again.
The suspension, imposed in February 2025, stemmed from the federation’s earlier refusal to adopt electoral reforms aligned with FIFA governance standards. The matter was resolved on 2 March, when the Congress ratified the revised constitution in line with recommendations from both FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
With the suspension lifted, Pakistan has regained eligibility to compete in international football competitions.
Shahid Khokhar, a member of the PFF Normalisation Committee, praised the reforms as a “positive step” toward long-term institutional stability.
Infantino’s visit will likely boost international confidence in Pakistan’s sports sector and may inspire further investment and development in football infrastructure.
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