Sardar Azmoun Excluded from Iran's World Cup Squad Following Controversial Social Media Post

Iran announced its 26-man roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 2, 2026, and Sardar Azmoun, known as the 'Iranian Messi,' was not included. Coach Amir Ghalenoei had previously dropped Azmoun from the national team in March, reportedly due to a social media post that upset Iranian authorities. Azmoun, a 31-year-old striker with experience at Bayer Leverkusen and AS Roma, shared a photo with the Emir of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is recognized as a U.S. ally and has supported U.S. actions against Iran. Although Azmoun deleted the photo shortly after posting, it led to accusations of 'treason' and a 'disloyal act' against him. Azmoun will not join his teammates, including Mehdi Taremi, who plays for Olympiacos in Greece. Iran's squad includes 17 players from domestic clubs, as they have not played since February due to ongoing conflicts in the region. The team is currently training in Antalya, Türkiye, and is set to travel to Tijuana, Mexico, for the World Cup. Despite concerns about participation due to the war, FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed in April that Iran would compete. The team's base was moved from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana to address potential visa issues and security concerns. Iran's group matches will take place as scheduled, starting with a game against New Zealand on June 15 at SoFi Stadium.