FIFA President Infantino Lauds PM Shehbaz Sharif for Pakistan's Development

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for Pakistan’s transformative football development, calling the country’s progress “absolutely incredible” and spotlighting football as a force for unity and joy.

Speaking at the ninth edition of the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, a high-profile gathering of global leaders, Infantino lauded Pakistan’s efforts to grow the sport, noting that while infrastructure matters, nations must also invest in “emotions and happiness”, values football delivers like no other.

“What you are doing with your country is transformative. I can only take my hat off,” Gianni Infantino said, addressing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other dignitaries. “Alongside your investments in technology, schools, and hospitals, we must also invest in happiness, and football is one of the best ways to bring people together.”

Infantino highlighted football’s unmatched ability to connect people across borders, recalling how recent tournaments united billions in shared celebration. He cited the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which drew 3 million spectators and over 5 billion global viewers, and the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, which attracted 2 billion viewers worldwide. The next edition, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, is expected to break records with 6 billion viewers and 7 million fans attending matches.

“At the end of the day, people want jobs and education, yes — but they also want a moment to forget everything and just be happy,” Infantino said. “That’s what football gives them. It reminds us we’re part of one world.”

The remarks were warmly received by Pakistani officials, who continue to push for stronger sports infrastructure and greater participation in global football, part of a broader national vision to blend economic progress with cultural and social uplift.

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