Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, led the groundbreaking ceremony for Pakistan’s first FIFA Arena in Lahore’s Subzazar area, drawing government officials, football administrators and community leaders to mark the start of a new grassroots push. The event signals the arrival of international-standard small-sided pitches designed to expand access to the game.
Syed Mohsen Gilani, President of the Pakistan Football Federation, introduced the FIFA Arena initiative to Pakistan and said the project reflects discussions tied to the Prime Minister’s vision. Gilani noted that Rana Mashhood provided immediate support for beginning the pilot in his constituency, setting the stage for what organisers describe as a broader nationwide rollout of FIFA Arena sites.
The initiative was framed as a practical step to transform how young players access football facilities. Organisers stressed that installing a FIFA Arena in local communities will give children the chance to train and play on standardised pitches close to home rather than only watching world-class football on television.
Among attendees, MNA Hafiz Nauman praised the government’s focus on youth engagement through sport and offered to make additional school facilities available for future FIFA Arena installations. Community leader Naveed Ahmed Lodhi welcomed the revival of neighbourhood football spaces, while Jawed Dogar, Additional Inspector General and PFF Congress member, described the development as a proud moment for residents of Subzazar.
Rana Mashhood also announced that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to inaugurate the facility once construction is complete, underlining the project’s place within broader national development efforts. Project backers said the FIFA Arena will help nurture local talent and contribute to a pipeline of players emerging from Pakistan’s grassroots programmes.
The FIFA Arena is a FIFA-endorsed, standardised small-sided pitch concept aimed at widening participation and improving training environments. Local officials and PFF representatives said the Subzazar site will serve as a model for future installations that bring world-class football infrastructure to communities across Pakistan.
