Iran's Football Federation on April 26 released a preliminary 30-player squad for the 2026 World Cup, with veteran striker Sardar Azmoun notably absent.
Azmoun, 31, who currently plays for Shabab Al-Ahly in Dubai, UAE, was removed from the national team in March after being accused of 'actions showing disloyalty' to the government, linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran.
According to Iranian media, Azmoun posted an Instagram photo of himself meeting Dubai's ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Shortly after, Fars News reported that he was cut from the team. Azmoun later deleted the image but still faced criticism on state television.
Azmoun is Iran's all-time leading scorer with 57 goals in 91 appearances and played in two previous World Cups. The attacking line for Iran in this tournament will be led by Mehdi Taremi, who now plays for Olympiacos in Greece and has experience in top European leagues.
Head coach Amir Ghalenoei said the squad will travel to Turkey on April 28 for training, friendly matches, and visa processing before heading to the United States. The team will train in Antalya, where they were based in March. The 30-player list must be reduced to a maximum of 26 by June 1.
"Selecting 30 players for the final training camp before the World Cup is the most difficult technical decision of my coaching career," Ghalenoei told the federation's website, insisting he chose players solely on "professional criteria."
Iran is scheduled to play two friendlies in Antalya, including a match against Gambia on May 29. So far, players and coaching staff have not yet received World Cup visas. Federation president Mehdi Taj said players will need to provide fingerprints in Turkey as part of the visa process but want to avoid a 450-kilometer trip from Antalya to the capital Ankara. FIFA has given assurances ahead of the tournament starting June 11.
At the 2026 World Cup, Iran is in Group G, facing New Zealand (June 15, Los Angeles), Belgium (same city), and Egypt (Seattle).
