Iran’s announcement to boycott FIFA World Cup: A Major Loss for Football: Atif Iqbal

KARACHI, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Mar, 2026) Chairman of RK sports Management Atif Iqbal, President Rais Khan, and Vice Chairperson Irum Fawad have termed Iran’s announcement to boycott the FIFA World Cup 2026 a major loss for international football.

They have urged FIFA to ensure that all countries which qualify for the mega tournament are able to participate.

Reacting to Iran’s announcement, the officials stated that the Iranian national football team is considered one of the strongest teams in the world.

Iran has participated in previous World Cup tournaments and has also demonstrated impressive performance in the qualifying rounds.

They said that Iran’s Minister for Sports Ahmad Donyamali has expressed concerns that the safety of players cannot be guaranteed under war-like conditions, making it difficult for the team to prepare or participate in the tournament.

Following this stance, they emphasized that FIFA President Gianni Infantino must play an active role and ensure the safety and security of the Iranian team.