The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) have held discussions on a potential friendly match, along with proposals for coaching exchanges and broader long-term football cooperation between the two nations.
KARACHI: Pakistan and Argentina have held initial discussions on the possibility of an international friendly between their national football teams, as part of wider talks on football development cooperation, sources familiar with the matter said.
According to sources, officials from the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) engaged in early-stage talks during an online meeting, where they explored various areas of collaboration. These included coaching development, technical training programmes, and the potential arrangement of a friendly match.
Both sides also explored the possibility of Argentine coaches visiting Pakistan under a structured development programme, alongside a broader technical cooperation framework aimed at strengthening the country’s football infrastructure.
An official statement issued by Pakistan’s mission in Argentina described the meeting as “productive and forward-looking,” noting that it was facilitated by the mission and brought together the PFF and AFA following the launch of the “AFA Pakistan” initiative and Argentina’s interest in deeper engagement with Pakistan’s football ecosystem.
The meeting, chaired by Ambassador Hassan Afzal Khan, was attended by PFF President Syed Mohsin Gilani and his delegation, as well as AFA Marketing Director Francisco Lemmi.
According to the statement, Ambassador Khan termed the development “an excellent opportunity to strengthen collaboration and contribute to the growth of football in Pakistan.” Gilani, meanwhile, welcomed AFA’s outreach and stressed the need for a “structured and sustainable” partnership focused on long-term cooperation and mutual benefit.
If finalised, the proposed friendly match would be held after the FIFA World Cup, with both federations agreeing to continue discussions on logistical and technical matters before any official confirmation.
The statement further described the engagement as a “promising step toward international collaboration in sports development,” opening new avenues for football growth in Pakistan.
Sources, however, emphasised that discussions are still at an early stage, and further coordination will be required before any formal agreement on a friendly match or development programme is reached.
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