{{short description|Pakistani sports manufacturing company}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use Pakistani English|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox company| | name = Forward Sports (Private) Limited. | logo = File:This is the Forward Sport brand logo.jpg | type = Private | foundation = {{Start date and age|1991}} | founder = | location = | hq_location_city = Sialkot | hq_location_country = Pakistan | key_people = Khawaja Masood Akhtar (CEO) | industry = Sporting goods | products = Soccer balls | revenue = {{USD|57 million}}<ref name=":0" /> (2022–2023) | homepage = {{URL|forward.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 has been the official provider of balls for the 2014 FIFA World Cup (the Brazuca), the 2018 FIFA World Cup (the Telstar 18),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/140422/one-mans-dream-come-true-making-the-official-ball-the-2014|title=One man's dream come true: Making the official ball for the 2014 FIFA World Cup|website=GlobalPost}}</ref> the 2022 FIFA World Cup (the Al Rihla),<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Hussain |first=Bilal |date=2022-11-20 |title=Pakistan-made footballs at FIFA World Cup 2022: the ‘crown jewel’ for Sialkot’s Forward Sports |url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40209781 |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=Brecorder |language=en}}</ref> and 2026 FIFA World Cup (the Trionda).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Made in Pakistan: FIFA unveils 'Trionda', the official ball for 2026 World Cup|url=https://thecurrent.pk/made-in-pakistan-fifa-unveils-trionda-the-official-ball-for-2026-world-cup|access-date=13 December 2025|website=The Current}}</ref>
It produces soccer balls, handballs, sala balls, beach balls, indoor balls, sports bags, shin guards, goalkeeping gloves and medicine balls.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-05-19/pakistan-may-surprise-maradona-at-world-cup-in-brazil|title=Pakistan May Surprise Maradona at World Cup in Brazil|date=20 May 2014|website=bloomberg.com|url-access=registration}}</ref>
Khawaja Masud Akhtar was awarded with the Sitara-i-Imtiaz on 23 March 2019<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-26 |title=Governor Punjab awards “Sitaara-e-Imtiaz” to Khawaja Masood Akhtar |url=https://customstoday.media/governor-punjab-awards-sitaara-e-imtiaz-to-khawaja-masud-akhtar/ |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=Customs Today Newspaper |language=en-US}}</ref> and the Hilal-i-Imtiaz on 23 March 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=President confers Pakistan civil awards on 135 individuals |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2407715/president-confers-pakistan-civil-awards-on-135-individuals?amp=1 |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref>
==Affiliates== The parent entity, Forward Group, has another subsidiary called Forward Gear which manufactures bags.<ref name=":5"/>
Forward Sports has an affiliated company based in Egypt, known as Forward Egypt, which manufactured a portion of the Adidas Al Rihla. 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/pakistan-to-produce-world-cup-soccer-balls/article6033687.ece|title=Pakistan to produce World Cup soccer balls|date=21 May 2014|website=The Hindu}}</ref>
==Criticism== 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.<ref name=":5">{{cite news |last1=Shahid |first1=Umar |title=Pakistan: Marvellous victory for Forward Gear workers in Sialkot |url=https://marxist.com/pakistan-marvellous-victory-forward-gear-workers-sialkot.htm |access-date=3 August 2025 |work=Marxist.com |date=21 August 2015 |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Pakistan: The struggles of workers making footballs for the FIFA World Cup |url=https://libcom.org/article/pakistan-struggles-workers-making-footballs-fifa-world-cup |access-date=3 August 2025 |work=libcom.org |language=en}}</ref> According to CEO Khawaja Masood Akhtar, the workers at Forward Sports get paid minimum wage.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ahmed |first1=Shahzada Irfan |title=Rights for the ball-makers |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/556577-labour-rights-of-ball-makers |access-date=3 August 2025 |work=The News International |date=29 June 2014 |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Symington |first1=Annabel |title=One man’s dream come true: Making the official ball for the 2014 FIFA World Cup |url=https://theworld.org/stories/2016/07/30/one-mans-dream-come-true-making-official-ball-2014-fifa-world-cup |access-date=3 August 2025 |work=The World |date=30 June 2016 |language=en-gb}}</ref>
==See also == *List of largest companies in Pakistan
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Sister project links|Sialkot}}
Category:Privately held companies of Pakistan Category:Pakistani companies established in 1991 Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1991 Category:Sportswear brands Category:Sporting goods manufacturers of Pakistan Category:Companies based in Sialkot Category:Pakistani brands