Portugal’s FC Porto has partnered with Sialkot Football Academy to establish Pakistan’s first Dragon Force by FC Porto academy in Sialkot. The agreement was announced on September 15, 2026, as the Portuguese club expands its youth football network in Asia.
The new academy will bring FC Porto’s youth training methods, coaching knowledge and football values to young players in Pakistan. The programme will also focus on training local coaches and managers, giving the academy a wider role in developing football skills.
Sialkot Football Academy is a project of Forward Sports, a local company known for producing official FIFA World Cup match balls. The partnership connects FC Porto with a city that already has a strong link to the international sports industry.
The Sialkot facility will become FC Porto’s 11th international Dragon Force academy. With its addition, the club’s international network is expected to include more than 11,000 young players across four continents. FC Porto has also set a target of reaching 40,000 young athletes worldwide by 2030.
The Pakistan Embassy in Portugal supported the partnership, which officials said would strengthen sporting ties between Pakistan and Portugal while creating new opportunities for young Pakistani footballers.
