Sardar Azmoun, known as 'Iranian Messi,' left off country's World Cup squad after being accused of 'treason'

Iran announced its 26-man roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup connected Monday, and Sardar Azmoun, nicknamed the "Iranian Messi," was not connected it.

Coach Amir Ghalenoei had Azmoun dropped from Iran’s nationalist shot squad successful March, and it was reportedly owed to a societal media station that angered Iranian authorities.

Azmoun, a 31-year-old striker who is good known for his clip playing for Bayer Leverkusen and AS Roma, posted a photograph alongside the Emir of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is simply a known U.S. state and has shown enactment for President Donald Trump’s engagement successful the warfare against Iran.

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Sardar Azmoun of Iran reacts during the FIFA World Cup Asian 2nd qualifier Group E lucifer against Hong Kong astatine Hong Kong Stadium connected June 6, 2024. (Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Azmoun, who has implicit 5.8 cardinal followers connected Instagram, rapidly deleted the photo, but it was up agelong capable to choler authorities, and helium was accused of "treason" and a "disloyal act."

Azmoun won’t beryllium joining those from his country, including chap prima striker Mehdi Taremi, who plays for Olympiacos successful Greece. Taremi was among the 9 players who person been a portion of clubs overseas this year.

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Iran is bringing 17 players who prima for teams wrong the country, though they haven’t played since February due to the fact that of the warfare successful the Middle East.

The squad has been grooming successful Antalya, Türkiye, but they volition beryllium heading for Tijuana, Mexico, connected Friday to their basal for the World Cup.

There had been sizeable speculation astir whether Iran would enactment successful the World Cup oregon not, arsenic the warfare created a imaginable struggle contempt them qualifying for the tournament. FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed successful April that Iran would inactive compete, though they had an contented with their radical matches being played connected U.S. soil.

Sardar Azmoun of AS Roma looks connected during a affable lucifer against AC Milan astatine Optus Stadium successful Perth, Australia, connected May 31, 2024. (Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Their squad basal was antecedently acceptable for Tucson, Arizona, but Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran Football Federation, announced precocious past period that they would beryllium moved to Tijuana. The determination perchance coincides with uncertainty surrounding the warfare successful the Middle East and information concerns.

Also, Iran’s federation said moving the campy would resoluteness imaginable visa issues since the squad volition participate the U.S. done Mexico.

Taj noted successful a connection that the shot federation submitted requests to alteration its base, and the requests were approved. But FIFA didn’t alteration Iran’s radical matches upon a erstwhile request, meaning they volition statesman their Group G docket against New Zealand astatine SoFi Stadium connected June 15 arsenic primitively set. They volition besides play successful Los Angeles against Belgium connected June 21, followed by a lucifer against Egypt connected June 26 successful Seattle.

Sardar Azmoun of Shabab Al-Ahli FC plays during the AFC Champions League Elite crippled against Tractor FC astatine Prince Abdullah AlFaisal Sports City successful Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, connected April 14, 2026. (Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)

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Iran and the U.S. person a accidental to conscionable each different successful the tourney if they some decorativeness 2nd successful their respective groups. Iran, though, has ne'er made it retired of the radical signifier of the World Cup contempt reaching 4 consecutive tournaments.

The U.S. and Iran faced disconnected successful 2022, erstwhile Christian Pulisic scored the lone extremity successful a 1-0 triumph to nonstop them done to the Round of 16.

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