The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), on Monday announced the launch of the District Football Championship 2026 across the nation.
During a press conference held at the PFF headquarters, PFF Chief Operating Officer (COO) Muhammad Shahid Niaz Khokhar stated that a dedicated committee, which includes representatives from all four provincial football associations and the three regions of Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, has been established to ensure the championship’s successful implementation.
PFF COO Khokhar noted that this marks the first occasion in the history of football in the country where the federation will extend comprehensive professional and administrative support to all districts to guarantee the effective organisation of the championship.
Khokhar acknowledged the valuable contributions of the presidents of the provincial and regional football associations during the consultation process, as well as PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani for leading this initiative.
“Under Mohsen Gilani’s leadership, Pakistan football has already achieved significant international progress and has received commendations from FIFA and AFC officials. The current focus is on extending this vision and dedication to grassroots and domestic football,” he commented.
The PFF COO highlighted that the District Football Championship 2026 signifies a major investment in the future of Pakistani football, aimed at creating opportunities for local players and establishing a sustainable pathway for talent development.
Additionally, it was disclosed that the Pakistan Football Referee Association (PFRA) will play a crucial role by supplying qualified referees to uphold professional standards throughout the tournament.
Upon the conclusion of the District Football Championship 2026, the PFF intends to organise the National Club Championship, which will act as the subsequent phase in the player development pathway.
As stated by Khokhar, talented players identified through district competitions will be provided with structured training and development opportunities under the guidance of qualified PFF coaches.
The aim is to systematically equip promising footballers for representation at various levels of national teams. “This pathway will facilitate the advancement of talented players from district football to club football and ultimately to the national teams through a structured and merit-based system,” he added further.
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