Who is Sonia Mustafa? Pakistan’s first-ever woman FIFA referee

Quetta’s Sonia Mustafa has created history by becoming Pakistan’s first-ever female FIFA-certified football referee, a milestone that has inspired pride not just for Balochistan but for the whole country.

Sonia, who started playing football 25 years ago, faced many challenges during her journey — from inadequate facilities to very few opportunities. But nothing stopped her or made her lose interest in the sport. Even while playing in difficult conditions, she kept her love for football alive and later found a new passion in refereeing.

As per reports, Sonia successfully passed FIFA’s tough physical fitness and referee certification exams held in Lahore earlier this year. With this achievement, she became Pakistan — and Balochistan’s — first woman to be officially designated as a FIFA referee.

“Opportunities were limited, and facilities were hardly available, but I never lost hope,” Sonia told journalists. “Football is the game of my dreams, and being able to play for my nation in this role is a wordless honour.”

Now, Sonia works as a referee at the national level, officiating both boys’ and girls’ matches across Pakistan. Seeing her on the field, whistle in mouth, shows a new path for women in sports, especially in places where female participation is still low.

Sonia’s journey from a local footballer to an international referee is being celebrated as an inspiration for young women across the country. Sports experts have called her success a “turning point” for women’s football in Pakistan and urged for stronger institutional support and better facilities for female athletes.

Talking about women’s sports, Sonia said that conditions in Balochistan have improved compared to before, but the lack of basic facilities remains a challenge. “We’ve come a long way, but there’s still much to do to ensure equal opportunities for women in sports,” she added.

Her story of hard work and determination is a true example of how passion and perseverance can overcome even the toughest challenges.

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