Pakistani Youth Footballer Missing in Norway Tournament

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A young Pakistani footballer has gone missing in Oslo, Norway, during his visit to participate in the Norway Cup Street Football Championship. The missing player, Amanullah Rauf Baloch, was a member of the Islamabad Street Children Team and reportedly disappeared on the very first day after arriving in the country.

According to sources, Baloch  who hails from Lyari, a well-known area in Karachi  was officially reported missing to the Oslo police. The Pakistani Embassy in Norway has also been notified of the situation, alongside relevant authorities in Pakistan. Efforts to locate him are currently underway.

The tournament organizers confirmed that Amanullah did not participate in the Under-15 Boys event, raising concerns shortly after the team’s arrival. The Islamabad team was attending the Norway Cup under the international welfare organization Muslim Hands, which has previously facilitated youth participation in global sporting events.

Notably, this is not Amanullah’s first time in the tournament. In 2024, he had reportedly played for a local Norwegian team, suggesting some level of familiarity with the host country. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain unclear.

This year’s edition of the Norway Cup saw three teams from Pakistan taking part in various categories. However, a fourth team backed by a special Rs18.4 million grant from the Sindh government could not attend due to administrative delays.

Despite the incident, Pakistani teams performed commendably in the tournament. Lyari’s Better Future Pakistan Football Club secured the Boys Under-15 title, marking a strong presence for the region. Their girls’ team also reached the A-level round in the Under-14 category. Meanwhile, the Islamabad Street Children Team, to which Amanullah belonged, advanced to the pre-quarterfinals in the Boys Under-17 division.

The sudden disappearance of a young player has raised concern within both sporting and diplomatic circles. Authorities are continuing their search, and the Pakistani community in Norway has also been alerted to assist in locating the boy.