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Iran announced its 26-man roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Monday, and Sardar Azmoun, nicknamed the “Iranian Messi”, was not included.
Coach Amir Ghalenoei had Azmoun kicked out of the Iranian national soccer team in March, and it was reportedly due to a social media post that angered Iranian authorities.
Azmoun, a 31-year-old striker well known for playing for Bayer Leverkusen and AS Roma, posted a photo alongside the Emir of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is a known ally of the United States and has shown support for President Donald Trump’s involvement in the war against Iran.
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Iran’s Sardar Azmoun reacts during the second FIFA World Cup Asian Qualification Group E match against Hong Kong at Hong Kong Stadium on June 6, 2024. (Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Azmoun, who has more than 5.8 million followers on Instagram, quickly deleted the photo, but it remained long enough to anger authorities, and he was charged with “treason” and “disloyalty.”
Azmoun will not join those from his country, including star striker Mehdi Taremi, who plays for Olympiacos in Greece. Taremi was one of nine players who played for clubs abroad this year.
FIFA CONFIRMS Iran to play all 2026 World Cup group stage matches on US soil, despite tensions
Iran will recruit 17 players who will play on the country’s teams, even though they have not played since February due to the war in the Middle East.
The team has been training in Antalya, Turkey, but will travel to Tijuana, Mexico, on Friday to return to their base for the World Cup.
There has been much speculation over whether or not Iran will participate in the World Cup, as the war has created potential conflict despite them qualifying for the tournament. FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed in April that Iran would still compete, even if it had a problem with its group matches taking place on American soil.
Sardar Azmoun of AS Roma looks on during a friendly match against AC Milan at Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia on May 31, 2024. (Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Their team’s base was previously set in Tucson, Arizona, but Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, announced late last month that they would be relocated to Tijuana. The move may coincide with uncertainty surrounding the Middle East war and security concerns.
Additionally, the Iranian federation said moving the camp would resolve possible visa issues since the team will enter the United States via Mexico.
Taj noted in a statement that the football federation had submitted requests for rebasing and the requests had been approved. But FIFA did not change Iran’s group matches following a previous request, meaning Iran will begin their Group G schedule against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium on June 15 as originally scheduled. They will also play in Los Angeles against Belgium on June 21, followed by a match against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.
Sardar Azmoun of Shabab Al-Ahli FC plays during the AFC Champions League Elite match against Tractor FC at Prince Abdullah AlFaisal Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on April 14, 2026. (Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)
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Iran and the United States have a chance to meet in the tournament if they both finish second in their respective groups. Iran, however, never made it out of the World Cup group stage, despite winning four consecutive tournaments.
The United States and Iran faced each other in 2022, when Christian Pulisic scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory to advance them to the round of 16.
