Pakistani teenager to conduct toss for FIFA World Cup match today

MOSCOW: A 15-year-old boy from Sialkot is set to become the first Pakistani to be part of a FIFA World Cup match as an official representative.

Ahmad Raza is going to conduct the coin toss in the game between Brazil and Costa Rica on June 22, today.

Three generations of the 15-year-old’s family has been crafting hand-stitched footballs for international professional leagues in Punjab.

The day is set to be extra special for Raza as he will be able to meet the Brazilian football team and attacker Neymar Jr, who he greatly admires.

Raza’s father, Shabbir Ahmad is also a football fanatic and his child’s participation in the World Cup has gotten both the father and teen excited.

Coca Cola has collaborated with two-time Academy Award winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy to document the boy’s journey. The documentary is to be released next month.

The beverage giant has also gotten Pakistan’s football team captain Kaleemullah Khan to accompany Raza on his journey to Moscow.