Striker Sardar Azmoun, third highest scorer in the history of the Iranian national team and with a brilliant club career, is not among the players called up for the 2026 World Cup, according to the list published this Monday (1st) by the country’s federation.
Azmoun, with 57 goals in 91 games for the Iranian national team, was harshly criticized by state media in March, even being called a “traitor” after the publication of a photo on his Instagram profile in which he appears alongside the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, an ally of the United States and a supporter of Washington in the war against Iran.
Coach Amir Ghalenoei has defended his decision in recent weeks, saying he would select players for the World Cup based on “technical criteria”, amid suspicions the striker would be left out for political reasons.
The final list includes Alireza Jahanbaksh and Mehdi Taremi, two other players who have criticized the Islamic Republic of Iran regime in the past.
Azmoun, 31, who played for European clubs such as Bayer Leverkusen and Roma, had previously been criticized in 2022 for his support for protesters during the widespread protests following the death of Mahsa Amini.
In the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, Iran will face New Zealand in its opening match, on June 15, in Los Angeles.
However, according to the Iranian ambassador to Mexico, the national team’s players have not yet received visas to travel to the United States.
The Iranians were forced to move their base camp, initially planned for Tucson, Arizona, to the Mexican border city of Tijuana, amid rising tensions between Tehran and Washington over the war in the Middle East.
Iran 2026 World Cup squad list
Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Tractor), Payam Niazmand (Persepolis), Hossein Hosseini (Sepahan)
Defenders: Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan), Milad Mohammadi (Persepolis), Ali Nemati (Foolad Khuzestan), Shojae Khalilzadeh (Tractor), Hossein Kanaanizadegan (Persepolis), Danial Eiri (Malavan Bandar Anzali), Ramin Rezaïan (Foolad Khuzestan), Saleh Hardani (Esteghlal).
Midfielders: Saman Ghoddos (Al-Ittihad Kalba/EAU), Saïd Ezatolahi (Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai/EAU), Mohammad Ghorbani (Al-Wahda/EAU), Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal), Amirmohammad Razzaghinia (Esteghlal), Mohammad Mohebi (Rostov/RUS), Mehdi Torabi (Tractor), Mehdi Ghayedi (Al-Nasr Dubai/EAU), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Dender/BEL), Aria Yousefi (Sepahan)
Attackers: Mehdi Taremi (Olympiacos/GRE), Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh (Tractor), Ali Alipour (Persepolis), Shahriyar Moghanlou (Al-Ittihad Kalba/EAU), Dennis Eckert (Standard Liège/BEL)
