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Pakistan's '900 Won Per Hour' Artisans Complete World Cup Before Players Arrive

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • The 2026 World Cup, expanding to 48 teams and 104 matches, will use the Adidas 'Tricolore' ball, produced in Sialkot, Pakistan, a hub for 70% of global soccer balls.
  • Pakistani artisans, many of them women, hand-stitch the balls, with each taking about three hours and 690 stitches, earning a minimum wage equivalent to about $0.90 per hour.
  • Despite Pakistan never qualifying for the World Cup finals, its Sialkot workers have been instrumental in crafting the official balls for every tournament since 1982, completing the World Cup stage before the players even arrive.

The 2026 World Cup, set to be the largest ever with 48 participating nations and 104 matches, is already taking shape in Sialkot, Pakistan, a city renowned as the 'holy land' of soccer balls. For over four decades, Sialkot has been the exclusive producer of official World Cup balls, a tradition continuing with Adidas's 'Tricolore' for the upcoming tournament.

The official ball for the 2026 North America World Cup is the Tricolore.

— Article TextIntroducing the official ball for the upcoming World Cup.

This city is responsible for approximately 70% of the world's soccer balls, with 80% of those produced locally made through traditional hand-stitching. Each ball requires around 690 stitches and takes roughly three hours to complete. The skilled artisans, predominantly women, are the unseen force behind the global spectacle, ensuring the balls are ready for the world's greatest soccer players.

70% of the world's soccer balls are produced in Sialkot, Pakistan, the 'holy land' of soccer balls.

— Article TextHighlighting Sialkot's significance in global soccer ball production.

However, the reality for these craftsmen is starkly different from the glamour of the World Cup stage. While the official 'Tricolore' ball retails for about $170, the minimum monthly wage for a Sialkot worker is approximately $220, translating to an hourly rate of just $0.90. This means a worker would need to save their entire monthly earnings, without spending on necessities, to afford a single ball they helped create.

80% of the general soccer balls produced in Sialkot are made by hand-stitching.

— Article TextDescribing the primary production method in Sialkot.

Despite Pakistan's absence from the World Cup finals throughout its history, its Sialkot workers have been the silent architects of the tournament for 44 years. They are the first to 'complete' the World Cup, crafting the very instrument of the game before the players even step onto the field. Their dedication and skill, born from a legacy of craftsmanship, are integral to the global celebration of soccer, even as they grapple with poverty.

A single ball has approximately 690 stitches.

— Article TextDetailing the intricate hand-stitching process.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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