A three-member delegation of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) attended the 35th Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Congress held today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The delegation was led by Saud Azim Hashimi, President of the PFF and Chairman of the Normalisation Committee. He was accompanied by Muhammad Shahid Niaz Khokhar, Acting General Secretary PFF and Member of the NC, and Barrister Haris Azmat, Member of the NC.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed the Congress virtually, extending his condolences to members of the global football family who lost their lives in the preceding year.

In his remarks, Infantino highlighted key developments in global football, including the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup in the USA, the historic expansion of the FIFA World Cup 2026 to 48 teams, and the allocation of 9 spots for Asian teams in the tournament. He also congratulated Saudi Arabia on being confirmed as the host nation for the 2034 FIFA World Cup and appreciated the widespread adoption of the FIFA Football for Schools program by several Member Associations (MAs).

AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa delivered the Presidential Address, commending the remarkable growth of club football across Asia, stating it is rapidly evolving into a major success. The Congress also saw the formal approval of the AFC Budget for 2025-2026.

On the occasion, Saud Azim stated, “It was an honour to represent Pakistan at the AFC Congress and engage with fellow Member Associations. The PFF remain committed to strengthening international ties and advancing football development in Pakistan through continued collaboration.

On the sidelines of the Congress, the PFF delegation held fruitful bilateral talks with representatives from Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Japan, discussing avenues of cooperation and regional football development.