Pakistani teenager Raza conducts coin toss in Brazil-Costa Rica game

Teenager becomes first Pakistani to be on World Cup pitch in official capacity

Pakistani teenager Ahmed Raza on Friday conducted the coin toss for the game between Brazil and Costa Rica.



This marks the first time a Pakistani was present on the pitch of a FIFA World Cup match in an official capacity.

Extremely proud too see Pakistani representation at the #WorldCup
15 yr old, Ahmed Raza from Sialkot did the coin toss at the #BRACRC match just now! ⚽🇵🇰🏆

— Hajra Khan (@hajrakn) June 22, 2018

Raza hails from a family in Sialkot, whose older members have been crafting hand-stitched footballs for professional leagues across three generations.

Raza and his father Shabbir Ahmed are both football fanatics and his involvement in the World Cup represents the fulfilment of a dream for both father and son

Proud Moment of Pakistanis
15 Year Year old Ahmed Raza Conducted Coin Toss in #BRACRC Match#FootballWithCocacola pic.twitter.com/X3Iipd5K28

— Nouman Younas (@Noumaan22) June 22, 2018

Raza is a passionate fan of the Brazil football team and their talismanic attacker Neymar Junior and will get his chance to meet his heroes before kick-off.

Coca-Cola is also taking Pakistan’s football team captain Kaleemullah to Russia, with the former FC Dordoi man joining Ahmed on his journey to Moscow.

Coca-Cola has collaborated with two-time Academy Award Winning film-maker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy to document Raza’s journey, with the documentary expected to be released next month.