ISLAMABAD, Oct 29 (APP): The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in youth football and futsal, marking a significant step towards closer sporting ties between the two neighbouring nations.
The agreement was inked on October 18 at a local hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan, by PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani and FFIRI President Mehdi Taj, building on the longstanding friendship and brotherhood shared by the people of Pakistan and Iran.
The partnership establishes a framework for collaboration across youth development, futsal, coach education, technical exchanges and national team competitions, with the objective of raising technical standards and creating new opportunities for players, coaches and technical personnel in both countries.
Iran’s established pedigree in futsal makes the partnership particularly significant for Pakistan. A leading force in international and Asian futsal, Iran brings considerable experience in elite competition, player development and coaching. This expertise offers valuable opportunities for Pakistan as it works to strengthen its own futsal structures and development pathways.
The relationship already has a practical foundation. Pakistan’s men’s and women’s national futsal teams are currently coached by Iranian professionals Ali Imani and Fatemeh Sharif Noghabi, respectively. Their involvement reflects the technical links that already exist between the two countries and the potential for further knowledge-sharing and development through a more structured partnership.
Under the MoU, the federations intend to facilitate friendly matches, joint training camps and invitational tournaments involving youth national teams. The agreement also provides for exchanges of expertise in talent identification, academy development, youth competitions, coach education, sports science and sports medicine, including opportunities for PFF youth coaches to participate in FFIRI programmes and coaching courses.
In futsal, cooperation will extend to friendly matches and training camps between the two countries’ national teams, coaching and refereeing courses, and the potential deployment of Iranian futsal coaches and experts to Pakistan. The exchange of expertise in organising and managing national futsal leagues is another key area, offering support for the development of Pakistan’s domestic futsal competitions.
The broader framework also envisages technical and professional exchanges in grassroots football, women’s football, physical preparation, refereeing, football facilities and the development of talented players. The federations may also cooperate in organising international friendly matches involving their senior men’s and women’s teams, youth sides, Olympic teams, futsal teams and other national representative teams.
The MoU reflects a shared commitment to translating the enduring friendship between Pakistan and Iran into meaningful sporting cooperation. By combining Iran’s technical experience with Pakistan’s ambitions for growth, the partnership aims to open new pathways for learning, competition and development while strengthening the bonds between the two footballing communities.
The agreement provides a framework for cooperation for a period of up to three years, with specific activities, implementation arrangements and work programmes to be agreed upon by the federations.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
