Sialkot’s footballs find their way to the world’s biggest stage

SIALKOT, Jun 11 (APP):As the FIFA World Cup 2026 rolls into action Thursday night in North America with 48 teams competing across three co-host nations for the first time, the footballs at the centre of the action carry a story that stretches back to the workshops of a Pakistani city thousands of miles away. That city is Sialkot.

In a modest workshop in this northeastern Punjab city, 48-year-old Ghulam Qadir carefully examined the final stitches on a football destined for export. He could not say where the ball would eventually land. It may reach a school team in Europe, a professional club in South America, or perhaps a stadium hosting one of football’s greatest occasions. For Ghulam Qadir, however, the destination has never been the point.

“My father taught me this craft, and I have devoted my life to it,” he said. “Whenever I watch an international football match, I feel proud knowing that a ball made by Pakistani workers could be part of the action.”

But Ghulam Qadir’s aspirations for the next generation tell a story of an industry in transition. He does not want his son to follow him into hand-stitching. He wants him to master the technology that now drives football manufacturing forward.

“This craft gave our family a livelihood,” he said. “But I want my son to understand the machines, the computers, the modern side of this industry. That is where the future lies.”

Ghulam Qadir’s story reflects that of thousands of skilled workers in Sialkot, a city that has become synonymous with football manufacturing and earned global recognition for producing some of the world’s finest footballs. Located in northeastern Punjab, Sialkot has long been the heart of Pakistan’s sports goods industry. What began as a small cottage industry decades ago has grown into a major export-oriented sector supplying footballs and other sporting equipment to countries around the globe.

The numbers tell a compelling story. According to the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sialkot exported 47.988 million footballs between July 2025 and April 2026, generating export earnings of 221.8 million US dollars, equivalent to 62.3 billion Pakistani rupees, in that period alone. The city accounts for approximately 70 percent of total world football exports and ships around 60 million balls annually, with estimated annual export value ranging between 180 million and 200 million US dollars.

This year, the world’s attention is fixed on the FIFA World Cup 2026 and its official match ball, the Adidas TRIONDA. The ball’s name draws from the Spanish words tri, meaning three, and onda, meaning wave, representing both the three host nations and the flowing wave-inspired design featured on its surface. Its vibrant red, green and blue panels pay tribute to Canada, Mexico and the United States respectively, while gold detailing honours the FIFA World Cup Trophy. National symbols including a maple leaf, an eagle and a star are embedded into the design, and the panels meet at the centre in a triangular pattern symbolising unity among the three hosts.

Beyond its appearance, the TRIONDA introduces significant aerodynamic and technological advancements. It features deep seams designed to distribute drag evenly and maintain stability during flight. For the first time in World Cup history, the ball carries Adidas Connected Ball Technology with a side-mounted 500Hz motion sensor chip, enabling real-time data transmission and supporting VAR decisions with greater precision.

For Sialkot’s manufacturers, such technological milestones are a familiar story. The city’s football-making tradition has been built on generations of craftsmanship, innovation and dedication. Thousands of workers including stitchers, designers, technicians and quality-control specialists contribute to an industry that has become a source of livelihood for countless families.

Industry leaders say Sialkot’s success lies in its ability to blend traditional skills with modern manufacturing techniques.

“Sialkot’s football industry has evolved significantly over the years,” said Khawaja Masood Akhtar, chief executive of   Forward Sports, a leading football manufacturing company. “Today, we combine traditional craftsmanship with advanced technology to produce footballs that meet the highest international standards. Every football that leaves our factory carries Pakistan’s reputation with it.”

Modern football manufacturing in Sialkot involves sophisticated processes including computer-aided design, precision cutting, thermo-bonding technology and rigorous quality testing. Each football undergoes a series of inspections to ensure compliance with international specifications relating to weight, shape, durability and performance.

Despite technological advancements, the human touch remains central to the industry’s success. Workers like Ghulam Qadir spend years mastering their craft, ensuring every panel is perfectly aligned and every stitch contributes to the ball’s performance. Their expertise has helped Sialkot establish itself as one of the world’s leading football manufacturing hubs.

The industry has also played a significant role in Pakistan’s economy. Economy journalist Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Wani said the sports goods industry holds significant potential to contribute to Pakistan’s broader economic development.

“Pakistan, particularly Sialkot, enjoys a global reputation for producing high-quality footballs and other sporting equipment used in international events,” Dr. Wani said. “The sector not only earns valuable foreign exchange but also creates employment opportunities and supports small and medium-sized enterprises. By investing in modern technology, improving product quality, diversifying export markets and promoting sports manufacturing clusters, Pakistan can further enhance the sector’s contribution to economic growth. With the right policies and support, sports goods can become an even stronger driver of exports, industrial development and national prosperity.”

For former Pakistan Football Federation Secretary and ex-captain national team Col (retd) Mujahidullah Tareen, the pride runs deeper than economics.

“A football is not just equipment. It is the soul of the game,” Tareen said.

“The fact that Pakistani footballs are used on the world’s biggest stages, including the World Cup, is a source of immense national pride. Every stitch on a Sialkot football carries the dedication of workers who may never see the stadiums their balls reach, but whose contribution to world football is undeniable.”

However, the industry is not without challenges. Rising production costs, increasing competition from other manufacturing countries, fluctuating raw material prices and changing market demands continue to test manufacturers and exporters. Industry experts say maintaining competitiveness will require continued investment in technology, workforce development and sustainable manufacturing practices.

Many manufacturers have already begun adopting environmentally friendly production methods, a direction aligned with global trends as the TRIONDA itself is produced using recycled materials. Others are investing in research and development to improve quality and efficiency.

Yet despite all the technological progress and international recognition, the industry’s true strength remains its people.

“When people watch a football match, they rarely think about where the ball was made,” Ghulam Qadir said. “But for us, every football represents the skill and hard work of Pakistani workers. That is where our pride lies and that will never change.”