KARACHI – In a development that could mark a historic leap for Pakistani football, the national men’s team may soon find itself lining up against international opponents outside Asia. This prospect made possible through potential participation in the 2025 FIFA World Series.
The possibility emerged as a major point of discussion during a pivotal meeting between newly elected Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) President Mohsen Gilani and FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the FIFA Executive Football Summit held in Miami, the United States.
“We touched upon key topics such as the development of the women’s football team and the men’s team potentially participating in next year’s FIFA Series,” Infantino was quoted as saying by official platforms.
For Pakistan, which has long struggled to find stable footing in the global football landscape, this marks a long-awaited shift towards meaningful international engagement. The country’s football affairs had been in disarray for much of the last decade due to administrative crises. A FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee (NC) governed the PFF from 2019 until elections were finally held in 2025.
Despite the turmoil, the national team achieved a significant milestone last year by winning its first-ever FIFA World Cup qualifier — a dramatic 1-0 triumph over Cambodia in October 2023. However, since then, competitive opportunities have remained limited, confined mostly to World Cup and AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, with virtually no international friendlies scheduled — a persistent concern voiced by head coach Stephen Constantine.
A Window to the World
The FIFA World Series, introduced in 2023 as a pilot initiative, was designed to foster inter-confederation matches and offer lower-ranked or developing football nations exposure to international competition outside their usual regions. The inaugural edition featured 24 teams from six confederations competing across seven locations.
In last year’s event, nations such as Mongolia, Guyana, Tanzania, and Equatorial Guinea played matchups that were the first-ever international meetings between the respective sides — the kind of rare competitive exposure Pakistan has been sorely lacking.
Now, with Pakistan potentially on the invitation list for 2025, it could finally mean stepping into a new era of international visibility. Sources within the PFF suggest that if confirmed, Pakistan could face non-Asian opponents — a scenario unheard of in recent years.
Charting a New Course
While the World Series matches would likely be scheduled after Pakistan concludes its current Asian Cup qualifying campaign — which has already taken a grim turn with two straight defeats — the benefits go beyond just games.
Related: Pakistan 0–1 Myanmar: AFC Asian Cup Qualifier – as it happened
Football insiders believe that such exposure will be critical for preparing the national side ahead of future challenges, particularly the long road to the 2030 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Infantino emphasized that FIFA is ready to play a proactive role in Pakistan’s football revival.
“President Gilani brings significant experience and football management know-how to the role, and I look forward to seeing our game take positive strides under his leadership.”
Additionally, Infantino accepted an official invitation to visit Pakistan, extended by both the PFF and Interior Minister/PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi during a separate meeting in Washington, D.C. The visit is expected to be scheduled in the coming months, marking what could be the first visit by a sitting FIFA president to Pakistan.
The Bigger Picture
For Gilani, who took charge after years of institutional uncertainty, this summit was more than a symbolic gesture. It was the first real opportunity to present Pakistan’s football aspirations on the global stage. If Pakistan’s participation in the FIFA World Series is confirmed, it would not only signal a renewed commitment from FIFA to support Pakistan’s football growth but also give the players, fans, and coaches something tangible to look forward to — a chance to finally test their mettle beyond regional confines.
About the Author: Mohsin Rasheed is the founder and chief editor of Footballer.pk, a platform dedicated to covering and promoting football in Pakistan. You can reach him at: [email protected]
Source: Dawn