How Sialkot Came to Make the World Cup Ball
From hand-stitched panels to thermo-bonded match balls: the Sialkot factory behind four World Cups.
For decades, Sialkot was known for hand-stitched footballs. Workers joined leather and later synthetic panels with needle and thread, and the city became one of the world's main sources of stitched balls. LUMS researchers describe how that craft built an entire local industry.
The switch to thermo-bonding
Modern match balls are no longer stitched. Their panels are bonded with heat, which keeps the shape and water resistance more consistent. According to its Wikipedia entry, Adidas transferred thermo-bonded ball technology to the Sialkot manufacturer Forward Sports in 2013. The company's own director has said it developed the technology earlier, in 2007 (Business Recorder), so accounts differ on the exact start.
Four World Cups
| Tournament | Ball | What was reported |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil 2014 | Brazuca | Forward Sports produced the ball as a second source alongside production in China (Al Jazeera). |
| Russia 2018 | Telstar 18 | A thermo-bonded ball made by Forward Sports (Arab News). |
| Qatar 2022 | Al Rihla | Forward Sports said it made roughly one third of the quantity, as one of two manufacturers (Business Recorder). |
| North America 2026 | Trionda | Reported as made by Forward Sports (Wikipedia, Gulf News). |
Why it matters for buyers
The World Cup contracts show that a Sialkot factory can meet the specifications and volumes of the world's biggest sports brand. The wider city still makes stitched balls for training and amateur play, and other sports goods. For sourcing advice, see our buyer's guide to Sialkot.
Sources
- LUMS Centre for Entrepreneurship: Stitching the World's Game
- Wikipedia: Forward Sports
- Business Recorder: Pakistan-made footballs at FIFA World Cup 2022
- Al Jazeera: The hands that formed the Brazuca
- Arab News: Pakistan's Telstar 18 football stars in World Cup opener
- Gulf News: the Pakistani entrepreneur behind every FIFA ball