ANTALYA, Turkey (AP) – Sardar Azmoun, a former star forward for the Iranian national soccer team, has been excluded from the squad for the upcoming World Cup in what appears to be a politically motivated decision. Despite his absence from the team, Azmoun expressed his support for his teammates via social media on Tuesday.
The Iran squad members currently playing for domestic clubs arrived in Turkey on Monday to begin an extended training camp before their scheduled travels to the United States in early June. They are preparing for three group-stage matches, which are set to take place in Inglewood, California, and Seattle.
Azmoun, who has previously participated in the last two World Cups, has not received a call-up since a controversial social media post in March that provoked the ire of Iranian authorities amid ongoing conflicts involving the U.S. and Israel. On his Instagram account, which boasts 5.8 million followers, he wrote in Farsi, “Wishing you all the best, guys. It’s true that I’m not there with you, but you are my friends, and there is no reason not to wish you success.”
The 31-year-old forward is regarded as one of the greats in Iranian soccer, having scored 57 goals in 91 appearances for his national team. Azmoun currently plays for Shabab Al-Ahli in Dubai. In a related incident earlier this year, he posted a picture with the emirate's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which he later deleted after backlash.
The United Arab Emirates has established normalized diplomatic relations with Israel since 2020, placing it at odds with Iran amid escalating regional tensions following the conflict that began on February 28. Azmoun added on Tuesday, “A lot of people are trying to bring me down, but these things being said aren’t true at all.”
The Iranian national team, consisting of players based domestically, has not participated in any competitive matches since February due to the suspension of the national league amid the ongoing war. They have returned to Antalya, Turkey, where they previously played two warmup games and held discussions with FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding various logistical and political challenges related to entering and competing in the United States.
A recent follow-up meeting between Iranian soccer officials and FIFA representatives in Istanbul did not provide assurances regarding the issuance of visas needed for the team to enter the U.S. The Trump administration had previously announced that athletes and coaches visiting for major sporting events would be granted exemptions from travel bans, though this did not extend to other officials.
Iran’s delegation is expected to arrive in Tucson, Arizona, between June 5-10 for their training camp. The team’s first match in the World Cup is scheduled for June 15 against New Zealand at the stadium of the Los Angeles Rams. This will be followed by a match against Belgium, and they will conclude their group play against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. This match coincides with Seattle’s official Pride celebration, which has raised objections from both the Iranian and Egyptian soccer federations.
Moreover, Iranian soccer officials are urging FIFA to prohibit the display of flags dating back prior to the Islamic Revolution of 1979 at the venues where the team will play. FIFA's typical World Cup protocol restricts fans to displaying only the current national flags of its 211 member federations.
