SouthernWorldwide.com – Iran has unveiled its 26-player squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, notably excluding star forward Sardar Azmoun, affectionately known as the “Iranian Messi.”
Azmoun’s absence from the national team was initiated in March by coach Amir Ghalenoei. This decision reportedly stemmed from a social media post that drew the ire of Iranian authorities.
The 31-year-old striker, who has previously played for prominent European clubs like Bayer Leverkusen and AS Roma, shared a photograph with the Emir of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Emir is recognized as a staunch ally of the United States and has expressed support for former President Donald Trump’s stance on the conflict involving Iran.
Despite quickly removing the image from his Instagram account, where he boasts over 5.8 million followers, the photo remained visible long enough to provoke a strong reaction. Azmoun faced accusations of “treason” and engaging in a “disloyal act.”
Consequently, Azmoun will not be joining his compatriots in the tournament. This includes fellow prominent striker Mehdi Taremi, who currently plays for Olympiacos in Greece. Taremi is among the nine players in the squad who are based with clubs outside of Iran.
In contrast, the Iranian squad features 17 players who compete for domestic teams. However, these players have not seen competitive action since February due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The team has been conducting its training camp in Antalya, Türkiye. Their next destination will be Tijuana, Mexico, which will serve as their base camp for the World Cup starting Friday.
There had been significant uncertainty surrounding Iran’s participation in the World Cup due to the regional conflict, which presented potential complications despite their successful qualification. FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed in April that Iran would indeed compete, though concerns were raised regarding their group stage matches being scheduled to be played on U.S. soil.
Previously, the team’s designated base camp was in Tucson, Arizona. However, late last month, Mehdi Taj, the president of the Iran Football Federation, announced a shift to Tijuana. This change is speculated to be a response to the prevailing uncertainties surrounding the Middle East conflict and associated security concerns.
Furthermore, the Iranian football federation indicated that relocating the base camp could help circumvent potential visa complications, as the team would enter the United States via Mexico.
Taj stated that the football federation had submitted requests for a base camp change, which were subsequently approved. However, FIFA did not grant Iran’s prior request to reschedule their group matches. This means their opening Group G fixture against New Zealand remains set for June 15 at SoFi Stadium, as originally planned. They are also scheduled to play Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21, followed by a match against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.
A potential encounter between Iran and the United States could occur in the tournament if both teams manage to secure second place in their respective groups. It is worth noting that Iran has yet to advance beyond the group stage in their four previous World Cup appearances.
Read more : Robert Martyr Discusses His Wrestling Journey, Upcoming Event, and Travel Anecdote
In the 2022 World Cup, the United States defeated Iran 1-0 with a goal from Christian Pulisic, a victory that secured their passage to the Round of 16.
