Inside Pakistan Football 2025: Mohsen Gilani’s Roadmap, PPL Revival, and Challenges Ahead

Pakistan’s football landscape has once again ignited with hope, ambition, and controversy. After FIFA lifted its suspension from the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), the football community eagerly turned toward the leadership of PFF President Mohsen Gilani, a former player and sports administrator known for advocating structural reforms. His new roadmap aims to eliminate decades-long mismanagement and transition Pakistan from departmental football to a modern club-based ecosystem.

This article presents an in-depth look into Pakistan’s football revival plan, expected reforms, domestic league developments, and how Mohsen Gilani’s strategy could reshape football in the country.

Who Is Mohsen Gilani — and Why Does He Matter Right Now?

Mohsen Gilani has become the central figure in Pakistani football’s new chapter. His recognition isn’t only political, he is heavily respected among players and officials for preferring systemic change over temporary fixes.

Priorities Gilani Plans to Address

Key Area	Current Issue	Proposed Fix
National Football Structure	Overreliance on departments	Professional club-based model
Player Development	Lack of academies & youth competitions	Under-14, U-16 & U-19 national tournaments
Women’s Football	Funding inconsistency	Dedicated league + International exposure
Domestic League	No marketing & broadcast	Franchise + regional clubs, televised
Talent Scouting	Random selection	Academy scouting + data analysis

Gilani’s goal is not just to organize competitions, but to redesign the entire football industry in Pakistan.

End of Department Football: Why It’s Necessary for Pakistan

For decades, football players relied on departments (PIA, WAPDA, Army, KRL, etc.) for salaries and jobs. These institutions played a critical role when no formal league system existed. But globally, football thrives through clubs, not government-backed departments.

Department vs Club Football — What’s the Difference?

Department Football	Club Football
Salaries guaranteed regardless of performance	Performance-driven salaries + bonuses
No real fan base	Mass fan following based on region
Teams represent organizations	Teams represent cities
Limited commercial sponsorship	Commercialization possible: jerseys, ticket sales, rights

Without fan-driven clubs, Pakistan will never have a football economy.

This is exactly why Gilani is pushing hard to phase out the department culture and launch a professional club league structure.

Pakistan Premier League (PPL) Revival — What Will the New League Look Like?

Plans are underway to revive the Pakistan Premier League (PPL), but with a complete transformation. Gilani’s approach resembles football leagues like the Saudi Pro League, K League (Korea), and Thai League, where:

• City clubs are promoted over government organizations.

• Private investors support club development.

• TV/media rights fuel league revenue.

• Youth academies produce future stars.

Expected Structure of the Revamped PPL

• 10–12 franchise clubs initially

• Home-and-away matches in different cities

• Salary caps to maintain fairness

• Foreign player quota

• Transfer market regulations

• Women’s league connection for club partnerships

If successful, this league could become Pakistan’s first sustainable sports economy after cricket.

International Collaborations Are on the Table

Talks have begun with:

La Liga (Spain)

• Technical assistance

• Grassroots coaching courses

• Academy model replication

GCC & Saudi Leagues

• Training camps

• Foreign club friendlies

• Scouting trips

Qatar / Aspire Academy

• Scholarship support for youth

• Fitness & modern sports science exposure

If Pakistan aligns with these systems, future talent won’t just rely on department coaching — they’ll benefit from global-standard training.

Women’s Football: A Real Game-Changer

Women’s football is quietly becoming Pakistan’s strongest football story. The combination of local talent and international players of Pakistani descent gives our women’s team a serious advantage.

Expected 2025–2026 Developments

• Launch of Pakistan Women’s Premier League

• More foreign-based Pakistani players are joining

• Participation in Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers

• School & college-based girls’ football expansion

If backed with marketing and funding, women’s football could surpass the men’s game in professional growth, just as it has in the Philippines and Jordan.

Youth Football: The Foundation of Gilani’s Plan

No country becomes a football force without youth development. This is why the PFF wants to build:

U-14, U-16 & U-19 National Championships

• Annual tournaments in all provinces

• Scouting partnerships with academies

• Sports science tests for fitness

• Scholarships for poor but talented players

School + Academy Relationship

Schools produce players. Academies polish players. The national system selects players.

For the first time, Pakistan will have a football pipeline instead of random trials.

Scouting Will Become Modern — Not Political

Pakistan has suffered from corruption in selection. Gilani intends to change this by introducing:

• Data-driven scouting (GPS vests, fitness analytics, match metrics)

• Decentralized scouting committees

• International scouts invited for national tournaments

This means a player from Chitral or Gwadar can be selected purely based on ability, not connections.

The Challenges That Could Slow Down Progress

Despite huge optimism, Pakistan’s football reform faces obstacles:

1. Political Interference

Different authorities want control. This has historically ruined Pakistani football.

2. Stadium Infrastructure

Only a few stadiums meet FIFA standards (Lahore, Karachi, Multan need upgrades).

3. Lack of Private Sponsorship

Brands hesitate to invest due to unstable leadership.

4. Cultural Resistance from Departments

Departments don’t want to lose control or influence.

5. Lack of Qualified Coaches

Pakistan needs thousands of licensed coaches to train millions of players.

These issues could slow progress if not addressed systematically.

How Pakistan Can Build a Football Economy

To turn football into a viable industry, Pakistan must:

Attract Corporate Sponsors

• Banks, telecoms, tech companies must invest in clubs, events, and academies.

Sell TV Rights

Media partnerships will:

• Promote leagues

• Create national fandom

• Bring revenue to clubs

Ticket + Merchandise Market

Cities must develop fan culture:

• Local jerseys

• Stadium ticketing

• Fan clubs & cheer stands

Football Businesses

• Sportswear brands

• Nutrition & fitness gear

• Agent companies

• Analytics & tech startups

Football must become an ecosystem, not just a federation activity.

Vision 2030: Where Pakistan Football Could Be

If Gilani’s roadmap moves forward, Pakistan could achieve:

By 2030

Goal	Impact
Fully functional franchise league	Creates football economy
FIFA-level academies	Elite youth production
Competitive SAFF & Asian level	Improves rankings
Women’s professional league	Global recognition
Stadium & sports science expansion	Modern football standards

Pakistan could become:

• A regional football power

• A hub for South Asian football events

• A talent export market for Middle Eastern leagues

Final Thought: We Must Give Football Time

Change won’t come within a few months. Football systems take years to mature. Japan needed 20 years to become competitive; Saudi Arabia took more than a decade to build world-class infrastructure.

Pakistan has finally taken a step in the right direction.

For the first time in a long time, Pakistani football isn’t just playing matches — it’s building a future.