ISLAMABAD: Thousands of football fans are expected to gather in Islamabad and other Pakistani cities to watch the FIFA World Cup final on giant screens on Sunday, celebrating the country’s role in manufacturing the tournament’s official match ball for a fourth time.
The official FIFA World Cup 2026 ball, Trionda, was manufactured by Forward Sports in Pakistan’s eastern city of Sialkot, the world’s football-making capital that produces around 70 percent of the world’s footballs.
Although Pakistan has never qualified for a FIFA World Cup, the tournament holds special significance for millions of football fans in the country because its official match balls have repeatedly been manufactured in Sialkot.
To facilitate fans in the federal capital of Islamabad, the Islamabad administration has arranged for live streaming of Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at D Chowk in the city.
“Citizens will be able to watch Spain vs Argentina final on a big screen,” the Islamabad administration said, adding that live streaming of the match will start at 11pm Pakistan time.
Similar screenings have been arranged for Sunday in several other cities across the country.
This is the fourth consecutive FIFA World Cup for which Forward Sports has manufactured the official match ball, following Brazuca in 2014, Telstar 18 in 2018, and Al Rihla in 2022.
The World Cup final between Spain and defending champion Argentina marks the end of the biggest tournament in the competition’s history.
At the final whistle in New Jersey on Sunday, a record 104 games will have been played across almost six weeks and three countries.
The supersized tournament has delivered thrilling action on the field, with upsets, dramatic comebacks, spectacular goals and standout performances by the biggest stars of the game.
