# Forward Sports > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Forward_Sports > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Forward_Sports.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forward_Sports > Source revision: 1356932624 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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](/source/Private_company) | foundation = {{Start date and age|1991}} | founder = | location = | hq_location_city = [Sialkot](/source/Sialkot) | hq_location_country = [Pakistan](/source/Pakistan) | key_people = Khawaja Masood Akhtar (CEO) | industry = [Sporting goods](/source/Sporting_goods) | products = [Soccer balls](/source/Ball_(association_football)) | revenue = {{USD|57 million}} (2022–2023) | homepage = {{URL|forward.pk}} }} '''Forward Sports''' is a Pakistani multi-national company based in [Sialkot](/source/Sialkot), Punjab, specializing in the manufacture of [sports equipment](/source/sports_equipment), primarily [soccer balls](/source/Ball_(association_football)). The company produces balls for prominent brands including [Adidas](/source/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](/source/UEFA_Champions_League) on several occasions. It has been the official provider of balls for the [2014 FIFA World Cup](/source/2014_FIFA_World_Cup) (the [Brazuca](/source/Adidas_Brazuca)), the [2018 FIFA World Cup](/source/2018_FIFA_World_Cup) (the [Telstar 18](/source/Adidas_Telstar_18)),{{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}} the [2022 FIFA World Cup](/source/2022_FIFA_World_Cup) (the [Al Rihla](/source/Adidas_Al_Rihla)),{{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}} and [2026 FIFA World Cup](/source/2026_FIFA_World_Cup) (the [Trionda](/source/Adidas_Trionda)).{{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}} It produces soccer balls, handballs, sala balls, beach balls, indoor balls, sports bags, shin guards, goalkeeping gloves and medicine balls.{{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}} Khawaja Masud Akhtar was awarded with the [Sitara-i-Imtiaz](/source/Sitara-i-Imtiaz) on 23 March 2019{{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}} and the [Hilal-i-Imtiaz](/source/Hilal-i-Imtiaz) on 23 March 2023.{{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}} ==Affiliates== The parent entity, Forward Group, has another subsidiary called Forward Gear which manufactures bags. Forward Sports has an affiliated company based in [Egypt](/source/Egypt), known as Forward Egypt, which manufactured a portion of the [Adidas Al Rihla](/source/Adidas_Al_Rihla). The company was awarded a contract to produce over 3,000 [Adidas Brazuca](/source/Adidas_Brazuca) balls that were used at the FIFA World Cup 2014 in [Brazil](/source/Brazil).{{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}} ==Criticism== Forward Group has faced criticism for paying its workers below [minimum wage](/source/minimum_wage)s, a practice partly enabled by the low skill level required for [stitching](/source/Stitch_(textile_arts)). In 2015, the workers were granted a 15% increment after a three-day labour union strike.{{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}}{{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}} According to CEO Khawaja Masood Akhtar, the workers at Forward Sports get paid minimum wage.{{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}}{{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}} ==See also == *[List of largest companies in Pakistan](/source/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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Forward Sports](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forward_Sports) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forward_Sports?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.