A Sialkot-based company, is one of two manufacturers — the other one is from China – that have provided FIFA with at least 300,000 units of the match ball for this event.

In 2021-22, the company was among Sialkot’s top export earners with roughly $51 million in revenue (Rs9.7 billion in rupee terms, given the lower exchange rate at the time). The country, on the whole, exported sports goods worth Rs65.2 billion during the year, according to data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
Back in Pakistan, however, there is another kind of interest, even though its men’s team is placed 194th in the 211-team rankings, according to the latest update in October. The women’s team rank is comparatively better — at 160th out of 187 positions.