Sardar Azmoun has reportedly been expelled from the Iran national team after being accused in Iranian media of showing disloyalty toward the government, a development that could effectively rule him out of the upcoming World Cup.
The controversy has also added to wider uncertainty surrounding Iran national football team and their participation in the tournament, which is scheduled for June 11 to July 19 and is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Should Iran proceed with their World Cup campaign, they are expected to be significantly weakened without Azmoun, who has been one of their most prolific forwards, scoring 57 goals in 91 international appearances since debuting as a teenager in 2014.
Azmoun, who currently plays club football in the United Arab Emirates for Shabab Al-Ahli, came under scrutiny after posting a photo on Instagram showing him meeting Dubai’s ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Although he later deleted the images, Iranian state media and television figures strongly criticised him.
Football pundit Mohammad Misaghi led the backlash on state TV, arguing the action reflected poor judgment and disloyalty.
“It’s unfortunate that you don’t have enough sense to understand what kind of behavior is appropriate at a given time,” Misaghi said.
“We should not mince words with such people. They should be told that they are not worthy of wearing the national team jersey.
“We have no patience for this sulking and childish behavior. National team players should be people who proudly belt out the national anthem and deserve to wear the Iran jersey.”
The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran has not yet issued an official response regarding the reported decision.
At 31, Azmoun remains one of Iran’s most recognisable footballers and has spent his entire professional career abroad, including spells with Zenit Saint Petersburg, Bayer Leverkusen, and AS Roma, in addition to representing Iran at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Separately, an unverified report from Novad News claimed that authorities had ordered the seizure of assets belonging to Azmoun, fellow UAE-based international Mehdi Ghayedi, and former national team player Soroush Rafiei.
The situation has unfolded alongside scrutiny of Iranian football more broadly, including incidents involving the women’s national team.
Seven members of the delegation reportedly sought asylum in Australia after being labelled “wartime traitors” on state television for not singing the national anthem during a Women’s Asian Cup match, though five later returned to Iran.
Meanwhile, Iran’s men’s team are scheduled to continue their World Cup preparations with friendly matches in Antalya, Turkey, facing Nigeria on March 27 and Costa Rica four days later.
