Pakistan and Iran sign three-year MoU to promote football

Pakistan and Iran have signed a three-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote football, train young players and develop the game. Under it, the two countries will promote friendly matches, joint training camps, coaching courses and the exchange of technical skills.

The agreement between the Pakistan Football Federation and the Iran Football Federation was reached at a local hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan. It was signed by Pakistan Football Federation President Syed Mohsin Gilani and Iran Football Federation President Mehdi Taj.

The agreement aims to give young players, coaches and technical staff better opportunities to progress and to raise the standard of football in both countries. The partnership will focus on youth training, coach education, the exchange of technical skills and matches between the national teams.

Iran is counted among the strong football teams in Asia and at the global level. Pakistan is expected to benefit from its experience in the field.

Pakistan’s men’s and women’s national football teams are being coached by Iranian coaches Ali Imani and Fatemeh Sharif Noghabi respectively. Under the new agreement, efforts will be made to make this cooperation more organised and wider.

Areas of cooperation

According to the MoU, the two football federations will also exchange expertise in talent identification, development of academies, youth competitions, coaching courses, sports science and sports medicine.

The agreement also provides for the training of coaches and referees, sending Iranian coaches and experts to Pakistan, holding national football leagues, and drawing on Iranian experience in administrative matters.

Cooperation will not be limited to youth and the national teams. It also covers grassroots football, women’s football, players’ physical conditioning, refereeing, sports facilities and the training of talented players. The two sides will also be able to cooperate in holding international friendly matches between their men’s, women’s, youth, Olympic and national football teams.

The agreement initially provides a framework for cooperation for three years. The two federations will decide by mutual agreement on the specific activities, arrangements and practical programmes needed to carry it out.