KARACHI: Sports leaders have expressed concern over Iran’s announcement to boycott the FIFA World Cup 2026, calling it a serious loss for international football. Officials from RK Sports Management believe that the absence of the Iranian team would disappoint millions of fans worldwide.
Chairman Atif Iqbal, President Rais Khan, and Vice Chairperson Irum Fawad urged FIFA to ensure that all qualified teams can safely participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Concerns Over Iran’s Participation
The officials noted that the Iran national football team is one of the strongest teams in Asian football. The team has participated in several World Cup tournaments and has consistently performed well during the qualifying rounds.
However, concerns about security have recently emerged. According to statements from Ahmad Donyamali, current conditions make it difficult to guarantee the safety of players. As a result, preparing for and participating in the FIFA World Cup 2026 could become challenging.
Because of these concerns, the sports officials believe Gianni Infantino should take an active role. They stressed that the global football body must ensure proper security arrangements for all participating teams.
Call for FIFA to Ensure Safety and Fairness
Atif Iqbal and other RK Sports Management representatives emphasized that fairness is essential in international tournaments. They stated that FIFA must take appropriate steps to guarantee the safety of the Iranian squad.
According to the officials, ensuring security would allow the team to participate confidently in the FIFA World Cup 2026. They added that the tournament should represent unity and global sporting spirit.
Sports Should Remain Separate from Politics
The officials also highlighted that sports should remain separate from political tensions. Football, they said, carries a message of peace, friendship, and cooperation among nations.
Furthermore, they suggested that the participation of the Iranian team in the tournament could help ease tensions between countries. International sporting events often bring people together and promote dialogue through healthy competition.
Appeal to Iran to Reconsider Its Decision
Finally, the sports leaders urged Iran to reconsider its decision to boycott the FIFA World Cup 2026. Millions of football fans around the world look forward to watching the Iranian team compete on the global stage.
They concluded that the presence of strong teams makes the tournament more exciting. Therefore, they hope that all issues will be resolved so the Iranian team can participate and showcase its talent in the world’s biggest football event.