From Sialkot to the world: Pakistan-made football takes centre stage at FIFA World Cup 2026
Forward Sports produced tournament ball featuring advanced VAR technology
LAHORE – Pakistan’s Sialkot has once again secured a place on football’s biggest stage, with the official match ball for the FIFA World Cup 2026 being manufactured in the city renowned for producing the majority of the world’s footballs.
The tournament begins tonight in Mexico City, marking the start of the largest World Cup in history. As fans across the globe turn their attention to the competition, Pakistan’s sporting goods industry is celebrating a significant contribution to the event.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted the achievement in a message marking the opening of the tournament, stating that the official Adidas match ball, named “Trionda”, reflects the skill and craftsmanship of Pakistani workers.
A very special day for football fans around the world as the 23rd FIFA World Cup kicks off today.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) June 11, 2026
This global event is a celebration of sport’s unique ability to bring people together across borders, cultures, and nationalities. I extend my best wishes to the host nations USA,…
The ball has been produced by Forward Sports in Sialkot, a city widely recognised as a global hub for football manufacturing.
Trionda match ball
The Trionda match ball features design elements inspired by the host nations, the United States, Canada and Mexico. It also incorporates motion-sensor technology designed to support the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system during matches, continuing the trend of technological innovation seen in recent World Cups.
Sialkot’s involvement in FIFA’s flagship tournament extends over several editions. The city also manufactured Al Rihla, the official ball used at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Industry figures estimate that Sialkot produces around 70 percent of the world’s footballs, supplying leading international brands and competitions.
The announcement generated widespread attention on social media, with many Pakistanis expressing pride in the city’s contribution to the global sporting spectacle.
FIFA World Cup 2026
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is the first edition to feature 48 national teams, expanding from the previous format of 32. The new structure increases the total number of matches from 64 to 104 and extends the competition to nearly six weeks.
Hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the tournament is also the first World Cup to be staged across three countries. Matches will be played in 16 host cities, including 11 in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada.
The opening fixture sees hosts Mexico face South Africa in Group A at the iconic Estadio Azteca. The venue becomes the first stadium to host FIFA World Cup matches in three separate editions after previously staging games in 1970 and 1986.
Record participation
The expanded format has brought greater regional representation, including a record eight Arab nations in the finals: Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and Iraq. The competition also features nine Asian teams, 10 African teams, 16 European teams, six Concacaf representatives, six South American sides and one team from Oceania.
FIFA expects approximately seven million spectators to attend matches during the tournament, while global viewership is projected to approach six billion across television and digital platforms. Increased ticket sales, broadcasting rights and commercial partnerships are also expected to make the competition one of the most lucrative in FIFA’s history.