Sardar Azmoun, one of Iran’s leading footballers, has reportedly been expelled from the national team over an act viewed as disloyal to the government, making his participation in the World Cup unlikely.
Iran’s World Cup involvement is already overshadowed by regional tensions with the United States, which is co-hosting the June 11–July 19 tournament with Mexico and Canada. If Iran (Team Melli) do appear for their opening group matches, they would be without Azmoun, a key striker who has scored 57 goals in 91 appearances since debuting in 2014.
Azmoun, who plays club football in the United Arab Emirates for Shabab Al-Ahli, drew official ire after posting a photo on Instagram of a meeting with Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Iran has launched rocket and drone attacks on the UAE following air strikes by the United States and Israel. Azmoun later removed the images but remained the target of criticism on state television.
A Fars News Agency report, linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, cited an “informed source within the national team” saying Azmoun had been expelled. On state TV, pundit Mohammad Misaghi called the striker’s actions “an act of disloyalty,” saying players must understand appropriate behaviour and be worthy of wearing the national jersey. “We have no patience for this sulking and childish behaviour,” Misaghi said, adding that national team members should proudly sing the anthem.
There was no immediate comment from the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI). Azmoun, 31, is among Iran’s best-known players and has spent his club career abroad with Zenit Saint Petersburg, Bayer Leverkusen and Roma, in addition to his current stint in the UAE. He featured for Iran at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
An unsourced Novad News report said an order had been issued to seize assets belonging to Azmoun, fellow UAE-based forward Mehdi Ghayedi, and former international Soroush Rafiei.
The criticism of Azmoun came as state TV broadcasts showed a welcoming ceremony for Iran’s women’s national team returning from Australia. Seven members of that delegation accepted asylum in Australia after the team was labelled “wartime traitors” on state TV for not singing the national anthem before a Women’s Asian Cup match; five later returned to Iran.
Iran’s men are scheduled to play World Cup warm-up friendlies in Antalya, Turkey: Nigeria on March 27 and Costa Rica on March 31.
