While the country might be absent from the global roster of teams playing on ground, Pakistan will definitely have a quiet presence at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Football's biggest tournament, being held in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, is being played with Adidas' Trionda ball, which is being made in Sialkot, Pakistan.
Every four years, when the world's best footballers step onto sport's biggest stage and fans from across the globe gather in the stands, the ball alone arrives all the way from Pakistan. The company that has been supplying the tournament with the ball for the past four consecutive World Cups is Forward Sports Private Limited, one of the world's leading football manufacturers.
The Man Behind the Ball
Forward Sports produces approximately 20.5 million balls annually and about 1.5 million monthly. The journey began in 1991 when Khawaja Masood Akhtar, a civil engineer by training, founded the company with just 50 employees.
Entering the highly competitive field was not an easy decision. After graduating as an engineer, Akhtar secured a position with Pakistan Railways. At the same time, his uncle operated a sports goods business in Sialkot and encouraged him to join the industry.
“I never imagined I would end up manufacturing footballs,” Akhtar recalled. “I had no experience in the industry, but I had a technical mindset and a close relationship with my uncle, so I accepted the challenge.”
He initially worked as a production manager before becoming a production director at Capital Sports, one of the two companies created after the family business was divided. After his uncle encouraged him to establish an independent venture, Akhtar launched Forward Sports.
He began with a single room, limited resources, and a small workforce, producing footballs for American buyers. In the early years, they made only 1,000 balls per month as the company struggled to gain recognition in an industry already dominated by manufacturers.
However, fate changed in 1994 when Adidas became a customer. “A major breakthrough came when Adidas partnered with us,” Akhtar said. “From that point onward, I never looked back. There were setbacks, failures, and difficult periods, but with hard work and perseverance, we continued moving forward.”
The partnership opened doors to the international market. “What began as a modest operation has become a source of pride not only for us but for Pakistan as a whole,” he added.
Four World Cups and Counting
It was in 2014 that Forward Sports' association with FIFA began. It was selected to produce the official match ball for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Then in 2018, 2022, and 2026, the company has supplied football's greatest game with their best balls.
The name 'Trionda' is derived from Spanish, meaning three waves. It reflects the tournament's three hosts this year—the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The ball features a four-panel design with deep grooves and graphics incorporating symbols associated with the three countries, such as stars, a green eagle, and a maple leaf.
From the beginning, Akhtar believed that innovation would keep the company thriving. The firm began with hand-stitched footballs before transitioning to thermo-bonded technology in 2007. Later, it expanded into machine-stitched footballs, laminated footballs, and airless mini-balls. “Technology changes everything,” Akhtar said. “Football manufacturing was changing too. If we had not adapted, we would have been left behind.”
“Every day when I go to the factory, the first place I visit is our research and development department,” he shared. The company has invested in automation, laser-cutting systems, and advanced German machinery to increase efficiency and reduce production times. While their delivery time was 90 days in the beginning, it is 15 days now.
With manufacturers in China rising up as competition, innovation, discipline, and quality have been the principles Akhtar has focused on. Today, they produce 50,000 balls daily and have the capacity to increase to 75,000.
Not just footballs, the company also produces volleyballs, handballs, futsal balls, beach balls, indoor balls, medicine balls, shoes, and other sporting accessories.
For Akhtar, his family, personal discipline, and faith have been the secrets of success. “First, I am a human, then a Muslim and Pakistani. After that, I am a businessman,” he said while defining himself. “Anything is possible when there is will. Where there is a will, there is a way,” he added.
