Katara General Manager Prof. Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti and Ambassador of Pakistan H E Muhammad Aamer during the event at the Katara yesterday. Pic: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: Katara Cultural Village yesterday inaugurated the Pakistani Corner at Building 45, celebrating Pakistan’s contribution to the global football industry as part of activities accompanying the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The cultural space was inaugurated by the General Manager of Katara Cultural Village Foundation Professor Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al-Sulaiti in the presence of the Ambassador of Pakistan H E Muhammad Aamer and other VIPs and guests.
Organised by Katara in collaboration with the Embassy of Pakistan in Qatar, the Pakistani Corner will remain open throughout the tournament, offering visitors a unique blend of culture and sport, while highlighting Pakistan’s longstanding role in football manufacturing.
Speaking to The Peninsula, Professor Dr. Al-Sulaiti said, “I am delighted to inaugurate the Pakistani Corner at Katara today alongside His Excellency the Ambassador of Pakistan to the State of Qatar. This is one of several national corners that Katara has established to showcase the cultures and achievements of countries from around the world. We have opened cultural corners in collaboration with different nations, and we are proud to add Pakistan to that growing family.”
He added that the corner is particularly special because it highlights Pakistan’s remarkable contribution to the world of sport through the display of three footballs manufactured in Sialkot, the city internationally renowned for producing footballs used in FIFA World Cup tournaments.
A key attraction of the exhibition is the display of the Trionda, the official match ball of the FIFA World Cup 2026, showcased at Gallery 45 in Building 45, home to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Legacy Exhibition.
Ambassador Aamer highlighted Pakistan’s global leadership in football production, noting that the city of Sialkot manufactures around 70 percent of the world’s footballs, including official match balls used in several FIFA World Cup tournaments.
“This particular handicraft is part of our small industry in Sialkot. It is the people who have developed this art into excellence in so many years” the Ambassador told The Peninsula.
He said the production of the Trionda ball for the 2026 FIFA World Cup reflects decades of Pakistani craftsmanship, precision and innovation. The industry, he noted, has evolved from traditional hand-stitching techniques to advanced manufacturing technologies, earning the confidence of leading international sports organisations.
“We have a huge diaspora in Qatar and at these gatherings people get together and share their joys and happiness and unique moments together.
So, launching of this corner of Pakistan’s football is really important for the relations, people to people relations of countries like Pakistan and all the other football playing nations,” the Ambassador added.
The Pakistani envoy added that the initiative goes beyond celebrating sporting excellence, describing it as a cultural platform that showcases Pakistan’s contribution to the world’s most popular sport while strengthening ties between nations through sport and culture.
He added that the exhibition also offers visitors an opportunity to gain insight into the global supply chains behind football production and promotes cultural exchange, friendship and mutual understanding. The initiative further reflects the growing cultural cooperation between Qatar and Pakistan.
The Pakistani Corner is located in Building 45, which houses the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Legacy Exhibition, providing visitors with an opportunity to explore both Qatar’s World Cup legacy and Pakistan’s contribution to the global game at one venue.
