Following Historic U-15 World Cup Campaign, PFF Vows to Build Unique Football Identity on Fundamentals

PFF Eyes Global Ambitions Through Youth Development, Building a Distinct Football Identity

— Following Pakistan’s historic U-15 World Cup campaign, technical leadership stresses mastering football fundamentals, strengthening domestic structures and developing talent from the grassroots up.

The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has reaffirmed its commitment to building a distinct football identity for the country, 

with youth development, mastery of the fundamentals and stronger domestic structures identified as key priorities following Pakistan’s historic participation in the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan.

Speaking at a press conference held in Islamabad on Sunday following the team’s return, Head Coach Ahsanullah Khan said the campaign was approached primarily as a development opportunity, with the objective of exposing young players to international competition, testing themselves against different footballing cultures and gaining as much match experience as possible.

He emphasised that the coaching staff encouraged the players to compete without fear of losing, express themselves on the pitch and concentrate on mastering the fundamentals of the game.

Ahsanullah observed that established football nations excel because of their ability to consistently execute the basics, adding that replicating this approach was central to Pakistan’s preparation and performance at the tournament. 

He expressed confidence that if Pakistan could build its footballing foundations around these fundamentals, there was no reason why the country could not aspire to become one of the top football nations in the world.

He thanked PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani and the Federation for ensuring Pakistan did not miss out on the opportunity to participate in this learning experience, while also acknowledging the support of parents who travelled to Azerbaijan to encourage the young players.

 He further appreciated the President’s personal encouragement and the additional PKR 25,000 reward announced for each player, describing it as an important source of motivation.

Addressing areas requiring improvement, Ahsanullah identified the execution of basic skills and defensive transitions as key weaknesses that need to be addressed. He stressed that ironing out these shortcomings would require time, consistent training and further exposure to competitive football.

PFF Technical Director Adeel Rizki said the tournament provided an important opportunity to assess Pakistan’s standing against international opposition and understand the gaps that need to be bridged. He reiterated that results were secondary to the development objectives, with the experience helping the technical staff identify areas requiring greater attention.

Responding to questions about the future of domestic football, Rizki underlined that reorganising the domestic game was essential to shaping its future. He said the focus was on developing a structured pathway from the grassroots upwards, ensuring that talented players are identified, nurtured and given opportunities to progress rather than being lost along the way.

PFF Director of Media and Communications Umaid Wasim, responding to a question about government support, highlighted the availability of government-run facilities for training and the support extended through infrastructure and competition venues. He also referred to accommodation arrangements provided for participating teams during the domestic U-17 championship.

Reflecting on the World Cup experience, Pakistan U-15 player Ilhan Khan said he was delighted to have represented the country at the tournament. He felt the team had demonstrated its ability to compete against strong opposition, including Jordan, and believed that missed opportunities at crucial moments had prevented Pakistan from finishing higher in the standings.

Fellow player Owais also expressed gratitude to PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani for his support and encouragement throughout the campaign.

The press conference highlighted how the experience in Azerbaijan has provided valuable lessons for Pakistan football, with the focus now turning towards translating those lessons into sustained development, stronger domestic competition and a clear pathway for the next generation of players.