Iranian striker Sardar Azmoun has been left out of the country's preliminary World Cup squad, a decision widely believed to be connected to his social media activism against the regime. The 31-year-old, who has scored 57 goals in 91 appearances for Iran, has a history of speaking out, particularly during the 2022 protests following the death of Mahsa Amini. He wrote on Instagram, "At worst I'll be dismissed from the national team. No problem. I'd sacrifice that for one hair on the heads of Iranian women."
Political Tensions Rise
Azmoun's omission comes amid heightened political tensions. After the US and Israel attacked Iran in February, Azmoun posted a photo with the ruler of Dubai, a country Tehran considers an antagonist. The Iran Revolutionary Guards criticized him for "cooperation with Iran's enemies," and media reported he was dropped from March's friendlies. TV pundit Mohammed Misaghi said, "It's unfortunate that you don't have enough sense to understand what kind of behaviour is appropriate at a given time."
Azmoun's Response
Azmoun defended himself, stating, "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. No matter where I play football, my identity, my heart, and my pride are Iran." Despite this, coach Amir Ghalenoei cited "technical reasons" for the exclusion, though Azmoun's form has been inconsistent due to injuries.
Mixed Reactions
Iranian Vice-President Abdolkarim Hosseinzadeh called for Azmoun's inclusion, saying, "The need of the homeland is to preserve the threads of connection between its children." However, Ghalenoei may be reluctant to reverse his decision. Meanwhile, Iran's World Cup preparations face uncertainty over US visas, with FIFA approving a switch of training camps from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, near their opening game against New Zealand in Los Angeles.
Azmoun has wished his teammates well, writing, "Wishing you all the best, guys. 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."
