Iran’s provisional squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has sparked debate after veteran striker Sardar Azmoun was left out, with one of the country’s vice-presidents publicly urging national team coach Amir Ghalenoei to reconsider the decision before the final squad is confirmed. The 31-year-old forward was omitted from Iran’s preliminary 30-man squad despite being one of the most accomplished players in the country’s history. His absence has generated significant discussion ahead of Team Melli’s seventh World Cup appearance, with the final 26-man squad expected to be announced in the coming days.
Vice-president urges Iran to restore Azmoun
The decision has now prompted calls for a rethink from within Iran, with a senior government official publicly urging national team coach Amir Ghalenoei to bring the experienced striker back into the fold before the final squad is confirmed.Iran vice-president for Rural Development Affairs and Disadvantaged Regions Abdolkarim Hosseinzadeh has publicly backed Azmoun’s return to the national team.Writing on X, Hosseinzadeh said: “The need of the homeland is to preserve the threads of connection between its children. Whoever places the name of Iran above personal grievances is part of our national capital. Let us not overlook Sardar Azmoun’s action in displaying this bond, and if possible, bring him back to the national team. This is not a sporting decision but a message in favour of national unity.”
Why Azmoun’s absence has attracted attention
Azmoun’s omission has drawn attention because of his standing within Iranian football. The striker has scored 57 goals in 91 appearances for Team Melli, making him the country’s third-highest goalscorer behind Ali Daei and Mehdi Taremi. His club career has included spells with Zenit St Petersburg, Bayer Leverkusen and Roma before joining UAE club Shabab Al-Ahli. Despite that pedigree, Ghalenoei left him out of the provisional squad announced on May 16. According to The Guardian, The Iran coach has maintained that selections were made for “technical reasons” as he prepares the team for a World Cup campaign that begins next month. Azmoun has not played for the national team since June 2025 and has endured a difficult season affected by injuries and inconsistent form, although reports suggested his performances had begun improving in recent months.
Background to the controversy
Azmoun’s absence follows several years of scrutiny surrounding the forward. The striker had previously voiced support for protesters during the demonstrations that followed the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in 2022, a case that drew international attention and widespread debate.More recently, attention intensified after he posted a photograph of himself meeting Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and prime minister of the UAE. The image drew criticism from some quarters in Iran, with some reports later suggesting that questions had been raised about the player’s loyalty after the meeting, given the broader political tensions between Tehran and Abu Dhabi. It was subsequently reported that Azmoun had been left out of Iran’s March friendlies against Nigeria and Costa Rica. Television pundit Mohammed Misaghi was among those critical of the player. “It’s unfortunate that you don’t have enough sense to understand what kind of behaviour is appropriate at a given time,” Misaghi said. He added: “We should not mince words with such people. They should be told that they are not worthy of wearing the national team jersey.” Azmoun later responded on social media, defending his commitment to the country. “I promised myself that every time I played for Iran, I would give everything I had to bring joy to the people who follow football with love – especially the children in the most remote towns and villages who celebrate our victories,” he wrote. He added: “No matter where I play football, my identity, my heart, and my pride are Iran.”
Iran continue World Cup preparations
Iran were among the first teams to secure qualification for the expanded 48-team World Cup and are currently holding a training camp in Turkey ahead of the tournament. The provisional squad includes several experienced names, including Mehdi Taremi, former Brentford midfielder Saman Ghoddos, ex-Brighton winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh and veteran defender Ehsan Hajsafi, who has earned 144 international caps.
FILE – Irans’s players pose for a team photo before an Asian group A qualifying soccer match against North Korea for the 2026 World Cup, June 10, 2025, at Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, file)
Iran are scheduled to face New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in the group stage as they attempt to reach the knockout rounds of a World Cup for the first time. While he remains outside the provisional squad, Azmoun has publicly wished the team success ahead of the tournament. “Wishing you all the best, guys,” he wrote on social media. “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.”
