Pakistan Football Association joins CONIFA

We are delighted to announce that the Pakistan Football Association (PFA) is now a fully-certified member of CONIFA. Furthermore, the organization has ratified the newly-constructed Pakistan Football League (PFL) under its international constitutional regulations and competitions charter.

Both the Pakistan Football Association and Pakistan Football League are projects commissioned by the Global Soccer Ventures (GSV) group, a sports management agency committed to developing Pakistan’s footballing infrastructure, and ensuring the country’s most capable players have a suitable platform to demonstrate their talent.

Given the challenges presented by Pakistan’s current footballing landscape, GSV’s noble work will undoubtedly add significant value, and help to shape the country’s future relationship with the sport.

The decision to welcome both the PFA and PFL into the CONIFA fold was taken at the organization’s recent Global Executive Committee meeting on 21st May, following the conclusion of a rigorous accreditation process.

The PFA team – who will compete under the alias ‘Pakistan All-Stars’ – is comprised of the PFL’s most-talented players, with each squad member being registered to one of the league’s franchised clubs. CONIFA will not be involved in the PFL’s commercial operations, but will ensure the league complies to appropriate international standards of competition, and stays true to the principles set out in GSV’s initial membership application.

It also gives us great pleasure to confirm that the Pakistan Football Association (Pakistan All-Stars) will compete at the inaugural Asia Cup, which will take place this August in Alcochete, Portugal. Further details regarding the tournament will be disclosed imminently.

Welcome to CONIFA, Pakistan Football Association!

CONIFA World Football Cup Qualifier – Canton Ticino vs Raetia

The first match for the Conifa World Football Cup Qualifiers 2023 will be played on Saturday 17th June 2023 at 6.00 pm at the Brochin Stadium in Tenero.

The qualifying match will see FA Canton Ticino and FA Raetia, who are part of group B, oppose each other on the field to compete for the coveted access ticket to the Conifa World Football Cup 2024 that it’ll be held in Kurdistan.

The press conference of group B will be held on Saturday 17th June 2023 at 4.00 pm in the S. Gottardo conference room of CS Tenero. The conference will be attended by Ticino President James Minoggio, Rhaetian President Gubert Luck, the coach Simone Fontana, CONIFA European President Alberto Rischio, and CONIFA delegate Matteo Melodia.

Gianluca Novelli, European Director of Conifa tournaments said: “It is a great satisfaction to go back to playing official matches and at the same time to inaugurate a qualification system for the World Cup for the first time. This not only means that we have finally managed to put difficult years behind us but that we are on the right track given that the Federations are increasing and strengthening from every point of view.”

The words of the President of the FA Canton Ticino James Minoggio : “The Canton Ticino national team was born last year and we made our debut on the pitch on Sunday by winning 10:4, scoring 10 goals in 90 minutes.

“Raetia, on the other hand, has existed for 12 years and they have already participated in numerous international matches and events, Raetia is currently the 38th in the CONIFA ranking and we are the 39th ad interim.

“Raetia is the favorite team, we are the unknown factor, the surprise factor, the letter X, which was previously part of our old name Fatekillers of AJ Nytronix. Saturday will be a good match for the history of Ticino football.”

The coach Simone Fontana of the FA Raetia comments on the upcoming match: “Finally we can once again breathe the air of expectation and enthusiasm that an official CONIFA match can create. We hope to give strong emotions to ourselves and to the public who want to be present. Long live Raetia!”

CONIFA Men’s World Cup Qualifiers – Europe

 

The CONIFA Men’s World Cup Qualifying stage for Europe begins this weekend, nine teams will be competing across four groups for the chance to play in Kurdistan next year. 

If you haven’t seen it already, watch this video from our hosts who are excited to welcome CONIFA and the world.

 

CONIFA can now confirm the whole set of fixtures taking place across June and July. Unfortunately, the Padania FA had to withdraw from Group B and will no longer be taking part in the qualifying process.  

Group A:

 

Match: Kernow vs Sapmi 

Time: 2 pm CET (1 pm local time) 

Date: Sunday 16th July

Location: Bickland Park Stadium, Falmouth, Cornwall, England.  

Tickets: Between £6 – £9 

Group B:

 

Match: Canton Ticino vs Raetia

Time: 6 pm CET

Date: Saturday 17th June

Location: Brochin-CST Stadium in Tenero-Contra, Switzerland

Tickets: Free

You can find more information about the match here: CONIFA World Football Cup Qualifier – Canton Ticino vs Raetia | CONIFA

Group C:

 

In Group C we have three teams battling it out, with the possibility of two teams gaining qualification (This will be confirmed after the qualifying process) for the World Cup. Each match will be in the same location.

Location: Municipal – Eross Zsolt stadium in Csikszereda, Romania. 

First Match: Szekely Land vs Chameria – 7 pm CET Friday 30th June

Second Match: Chameria vs Two Sicilies – 5 pm CET Saturday 1st  July

Third Match: Two Sicilies vs Szekely Land – 7 pm CET  Sunday 2nd July.

Tickets: Between €5- €6

Group D:

 

Match: Abkhazia vs Artsakh

Time: TBA

Date: Monday 10th July 

Location: Dynamo Stadium in Sukhum, Abkhazia

Tickets: TBA