Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei did not select Azmoun – the Iranian forward whose 57 goals in international competition rank third all-time among his countrymen – for the team.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
"I am very sad," Azmoun said onVarzesh3's online World Cup show, per Erfan Hoseiny. "I have many things to say, which I won't say for now."
According toReuters, Iranian media reported in March that Azmoun was "expelled from the national team for a perceived act of disloyalty to the government." The outlet reported that the central issue was an Instagram post Azmoun shared in January that showed him shaking hands with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates. The veteran forward has since deleted the post.
(JOHAN NILSSON, TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images)
16/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 32: Paraguay– ninth appearance
(Daniel Duarte, AFP via Getty Images)
17/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 31: DR Congo– second appearance
(ULISES RUIZ, AFP via Getty Images)
18/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 30: Scotland– ninth appearance
(Russell Cheyne, REUTERS)
19/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 29: Egypt– fourth appearance
(ABDEL MAJID BZIOUAT, AFP via Getty Images)
20/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 28: Sweden– 12th appearance
(JONATHAN NACKSTRAND, AFP via Getty Images)
21/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 27: Australia– seventh appearance
(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images)
22/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 26: Ghana– fifth appearance
(Chung Sung-Jun, Getty Images)
23/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 25: South Korea– 12th appearance
(Chung Sung-Jun, Getty Images)
24/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 24: Austria– eighth appearance
(GEORG HOCHMUTH, APA/AFP via Getty Images)
25/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 23: Ivory Coast– fourth appearance
(Luc Gnago, REUTERS)
26/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 22: Turkey– fourth appearance
(ARMEND NIMANI, AFP via Getty Images)
27/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 21: Canada– third appearance
(Dan Istitene, Getty Images)
28/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 19: Morocco– seventh appearance
(ABDEL MAJID BZIOUAT, AFP via Getty Images)
29/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 18: Switzerland– 13th appearance
(Jonas Ekstromer, Reuters)
30/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 17: Croatia– seventh appearance
(DAMIR SENCAR, AFP via Getty Images)
31/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 16: Colombia– seventh appearance
(Jordan Bank, Getty Images)
32/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 15: Japan– eighth appearance
(Koji Watanabe, Getty Images)
33/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 14: Norway– fourth appearance
(ALBERTO PIZZOLI, AFP via Getty Images)
34/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 13: United States of America– 12th appearance
(Adam Cairns, Columbus Dispatch)
35/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 12: Mexico– 18th appearance
(Omar Vega, Getty Images)
36/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 11: Belgium– 15th appearance
(Yves Herman, Reuters)
37/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 10: Ecuador– fifth appearance
(Omar Vega, Getty Images)
38/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 9: Senegal– fourth appearance
(IAN KINGTON, AFP via Getty Images)
39/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 8: Portugal– ninth appearance
(Charles McQuillan, Getty Images)
40/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 7: Brazil– 23rd appearance
(Ryan Pierse, Getty Images)
41/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 6: Germany– 21st appearance
(Lisi Niesner, REUTERS)
42/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 5: Netherlands– 12th appearance
(Piroschka Van De Wouw, REUTERS)
43/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 4: England– 17th appearance
(GINTS IVUSKANS, AFP via Getty Images)
44/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 2: France– 17th appearance
(Franco Arland, Getty Images)
45/45
Who is in World Cup 2026? Ranking all 48 teams
No. 1: Spain– 17th appearance
(Pablo Morano, REUTERS)
Azmoun, 31, has played for Dubai-based club Shabab Al Ahli in the UAE Pro League since signing a three-year contract in 2024.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Areport from the Wall Street Journalin May indicated that the UAE "has been secretly carrying out attacks on Iran" as the United States has targeted Iran's military capabilities in Operation Epic Fury. Reuters reported that Iran "has launched rocket and drone attacks on the UAE."
"I have always played for my national team with pride," Azmoun wrote in anInstagram post. "When we won, I was proud of myself and my team-mates. When we didn't, I was more upset than anyone else in the world, just like them. I love football, and I love the good and deserving people of my country, Iran."
After Azmoun's expulsion from the team in March, he was left off the squad for two international friendlies againstNigeriaandCosta Ricathat month. In May, Ghalenoei announced Iran's national team's preliminary squad, and Azmoun was still not a part of it. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), a media organization funded and controlled by the government of Iran, reported at the time Azmoun was injured.
Azmoun told Varzesh3, "I know I could've been of help at this time."
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Iran's national team arrived in the U.S. on Sunday, June 14. They are set to play their first match of this year's World Cup against New Zealand on Monday, June 15.
