FC Porto Signs Agreement with Sialkot Academy, Announces Pakistan’s First Dragon Force Academy
The Sialkot academy will become FC Porto’s 11th international Dragon Force Academy.
Portuguese football giants FC Porto have signed a partnership agreement with the Sialkot Football Academy to establish Pakistan’s first Dragon Force Academy.
The Sialkot Football Academy is a flagship project of Forward Sports, the Sialkot-based company that manufactures official footballs for the FIFA World Cup.
According to a statement issued by the Embassy of Pakistan in Portugal, the partnership will see FC Porto introduce a comprehensive football development programme for young Pakistani players, while also providing training and capacity-building opportunities for local coaches and managers.
The embassy said the collaboration will provide talented young Pakistanis with a unique opportunity to develop their skills and pursue a pathway towards higher levels of the sport.
Ricardo Freire Ramos, Director of FC Porto’s Dragon Force Academies, said the partnership would provide an excellent opportunity to share the club’s football development methodology, values and experience with young players in Pakistan.
Hasan Masood Khawaja, President of the Sialkot Football Academy and General Manager of Forward Sports, described the partnership as a major development, saying it would open a new chapter for young football talent in Pakistan.
The Sialkot academy will become FC Porto’s 11th international Dragon Force Academy. The club has already established academies in countries including Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Türkiye, Mozambique, India, Cape Verde and Cyprus.
FC Porto aims to expand its global reach to 40,000 young players by 2030 through its football development programmes.
