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 nan 2026 FIFA World Cup connected Monday, and Sardar Azmoun, nicknamed nan "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 nan Emir of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is simply a known U.S. state and has shown support for President Donald Trump’s engagement successful nan warfare against Iran.

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Sardar Azmoun of Iran reacts during nan 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 complete 5.8 cardinal followers connected Instagram, quickly deleted nan photo, but it was up agelong capable to anger authorities, and he 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 nan 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 nan country, though they haven’t played since February because of nan warfare successful nan Middle East.

The squad has been training successful Antalya, Türkiye, but they will beryllium heading for Tijuana, Mexico, connected Friday to their guidelines for nan World Cup.

There had been sizeable speculation astir whether Iran would participate successful nan World Cup aliases not, arsenic nan warfare created a imaginable conflict contempt them qualifying for nan tournament. FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed successful April that Iran would still compete, though they had an rumor pinch their group matches being played connected U.S. soil.

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

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

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

Taj noted successful a connection that nan shot federation submitted requests to alteration its base, and nan requests were approved. But FIFA didn’t alteration Iran’s group matches upon a erstwhile request, meaning they will statesman their Group G schedule against New Zealand astatine SoFi Stadium connected June 15 arsenic primitively set. They will 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 nan 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 nan U.S. person a chance to meet each different successful nan tourney if they some decorativeness 2nd successful their respective groups. Iran, though, has ne'er made it retired of nan group shape of nan World Cup contempt reaching 4 consecutive tournaments.

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

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