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Forward Sports

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Forward Sports (Private) Limited.
Company typePrivate
IndustrySporting goods
Founded1991; 34 years ago (1991)
Headquarters
Sialkot
,
Pakistan
Key people
Khawaja Masood Akhtar (CEO)
ProductsSoccer balls
RevenueUS$57 million[1] (2022–2023)
Websiteforward.pk

Forward Sports is a Pakistani multi-national company based in Sialkot, Punjab, specializing in the manufacture of sports equipment, primarily soccer balls. The company produces balls for prominent brands including Adidas. Founded in 1991 by Khawaja Masood Akhtar, Forward Sports began its partnership with Adidas in 1994. Since then, it has produced balls for many international events, including UEFA Champions League on several occasions. It was the official provider of balls for the 2014 FIFA World Cup (the Brazuca), the 2018 FIFA World Cup (the Telstar 18)[2] and the 2022 FIFA World Cup (the Al Rihla).[1]

It produces soccer balls, handballs, sala balls, beach balls, indoor balls, sports bags, shin guards, goalkeeping gloves and medicine balls.[3]

The company was awarded a contract to produce over 3,000 Adidas Brazuca balls that were used at the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil.[4] Khawaja Masud Akhtar was awarded with the Sitara-i-Imtiaz on 23 March 2019[5] and the Hilal-i-Imtiaz on 23 March 2023.[6]

Affiliates

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The parent entity, Forward Group, has another subsidiary called Forward Gear which manufactures bags.[7]

Forward Sports has an affiliated company based in Egypt, known as Forward Egypt, which manufactured a portion of the Adidas Al Rihla.

Criticism

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Forward Group has faced criticism for paying its workers below minimum wages, a practice partly enabled by the low skill level required for stitching. In 2015, the workers were granted a 15% increment after a three-day labour union strike.[7][8] According to CEO Khawaja Masood Akhtar, the workers at Forward Sports get paid wages of Rs. 10000 (US$35) per month.[9][10][11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Hussain, Bilal (20 November 2022). "Pakistan-made footballs at FIFA World Cup 2022: the 'crown jewel' for Sialkot's Forward Sports". Brecorder. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  2. ^ "One man's dream come true: Making the official ball for the 2014 FIFA World Cup". GlobalPost.
  3. ^ "Pakistan May Surprise Maradona at World Cup in Brazil". bloomberg.com. 20 May 2014.
  4. ^ "Pakistan to produce World Cup soccer balls". The Hindu. 21 May 2014.
  5. ^ "Governor Punjab awards "Sitaara-e-Imtiaz" to Khawaja Masud Akhtar". Customs Today Newspaper. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  6. ^ "President confers Pakistan civil awards on 135 individuals". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  7. ^ a b Shahid, Umar (21 August 2015). "Pakistan: Marvellous victory for Forward Gear workers in Sialkot". Marxist.com. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Pakistan: The struggles of workers making footballs for the FIFA World Cup". libcom.org. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  9. ^ Ahmed, Shahzada Irfan (29 June 2014). "Rights for the ball-makers". The News International. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  10. ^ Symington, Annabel (30 June 2016). "One man's dream come true: Making the official ball for the 2014 FIFA World Cup". The World. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  11. ^ "This Is Where Most of the World's Soccer Balls Come From". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
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