Pakistani Factory to Produce Official Adidas Trionda Ball for FIFA World Cup 2026
Published June 15, 2026
While Pakistan's national team may not feature on the pitch, the nation will play a crucial role in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, as a Sialkot-based factory is set to manufacture the official Adidas Trionda match ball for the tournament.
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Football fans around the globe will witness the 2026 FIFA World Cup played with a ball crafted in Pakistan. Despite the national team's absence from the 48-team tournament hosted across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, the country will maintain a significant presence through its renowned manufacturing industry. The official match ball, named the Adidas Trionda, is being produced by Forward Sports Private Limited, a company based in Sialkot, Pakistan.
This isn't the first time a Pakistani-made ball has graced football's biggest stage. Forward Sports has been the exclusive supplier of official match balls for the past four consecutive World Cups, solidifying its reputation as a global leader in football manufacturing. The company's impressive output includes approximately 20.5 million balls annually, with about 1.5 million produced each month, highlighting its capacity and expertise.
The visionary behind this manufacturing powerhouse is Khawaja Masood Akhtar, who founded Forward Sports in 1991. Initially starting with a modest team of 50 employees, Akhtar, a civil engineer by training, ventured into the competitive sports goods industry following encouragement from his uncle. His journey from a position with Pakistan Railways to becoming a pivotal figure in global football manufacturing underscores a remarkable entrepreneurial spirit that now brings a piece of Pakistan to every FIFA World Cup match.