The absence of forward Sardar Azmoun continues to cast a long shadow over the Iranian national team at the 2026 World Cup. Despite having earned 91 caps and scored 57 goals, making him the third highest scorer in the country's history, the 31-year-old Shabab Al-Ahli striker was left out of the tournament officially for "disloyalty" following geopolitical tensions.
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Subscribe Sekarang →Based on media reports, the controversy stems from an Instagram post where Azmoun appeared alongside Mohammed ben Rachid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates. The photo drew heavy criticism from the Iranian government, particularly in a tense geopolitical climate marked by military conflict and cross-border strikes between the two nations.
According to statements made by Azmoun on the sports program Varzesh3, the player expressed deep frustration over the situation while choosing to maintain a level of restraint. "I have a lot to say, but, unfortunately, I am not speaking. For now, let the players focus," the former Zenit and Roma forward shared with his millions of social media followers.
From editorial monitoring, this is not the first time Azmoun's relationship with the Iranian football federation has faced turbulent times. In 2018, he briefly retired due to public insults that affected his family, and in 2022, he risked expulsion after publicly supporting citizens" protests following the tragic death of Mahsa Amini.
When questioned ahead of their opening match in Los Angeles, Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei attempted to downplay the political nature of the omission. The manager described Azmoun as an excellent asset but compared his absence to standard sporting scenarios, stating that even top figures like Brazil's Neymar occasionally miss major matches.