Football in Pakistan

Football in Pakistan has in the shadow of the much more popular sports cricket and hockey in a difficult position, Cricket had already been established in British India in the sub- layer, as in the subcontinent in 1880 began the development of football and rugby. Both sports were therefore against the popular cricket not prevail. Very popular the sport is, however, among the young. Greater success was therefore only be achieved in minor competitions even until now.

The Pakistan Football Federation

The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF ) was founded after independence from Great Britain on December 5, 1947 in Lahore. Even 1947/48, a national championship was held, which was won by Red Sindh.

Today Bangladesh belonged to East Pakistan in 1971 as the State and the association area. After the independence of Bangladesh Dhaka and Chittagong, Pakistan lost with two formative football strongholds. Today's football regions are Karachi and the Punjab Province.

More recently, the Pakistani football an upswing. Thus, a nationwide professional league was introduced in 2004. 2007 was Lahore hosted the AFC President's Cup.

The national association currently implemented various youth programs. An academy for the most talented local U-14 player was opened in Karachi in 2003. Training camp for U -16 -year-old will be held in Lahore and Peshawar.

Pakistani national

→ Main article: Pakistani national football team

The Pakistani national team took first in the qualification for World Cup 1990, in a run-up to the football World Cup, but already retired on the first round of qualifying. In the following World Cups came the Pakistani soccer ball over the preliminary rounds of qualifying not get out. The same fate gave the players in green in the Asia Cup.

Only with final victories over Bangladesh ( 1-0) and the Maldives ( 2-0) in the football tournament of the South Asia regional games could catch the national title.

The Pakistani association football

Under PFF president Syed Faisal Salah Mahkdoom Hayatder 2004 was the first time a nationwide National League, which called Pakistan Premier League ( PPL) to life. The competition, which is carried out with 16 teams can be played only limited due to the monsoon season between July and October.

A cup competition has been held since 1990, but has so far played only irregularly.

Neither in the AFC Cup still in the AFC Champions League Pakistani teams were able to convince. Only the semi-finals in 2009 AFC President's Cup by national champion WAPDA FC makes itself heard.

Women's Soccer

Only since 2005, a separate competition will be hosted in women's football.

The German Monika Staab was as dressing trainer obliged to establish a national team. In 2012 there was the first international matches of the women's team. In three games there were two losses and one win ( against the Maldives).