Iran’s regime has backed down under pressure: National team striker Sardar Azmoun has been officially recalled to the squad ahead of upcoming friendlies against Uzbekistan and Russia. Azmoun’s return comes just four months after he was kicked off the 2026 World Cup roster over political positions Tehran’s authorities viewed as “treason.”
1+The storm around the “Iranian Messi” peaked last March, at the height of regional tensions, after Azmoun posted a social media story expressing support for the United Arab Emirates. The striker, who now plays for Shabab Al-Ahli in Dubai, even posed for photos with Dubai’s ruler—a move that sparked fury among Iranian government officials and the soccer federation’s disciplinary committee. As immediate punishment, national team coach Amir Ghalenoei ordered him dropped from the squad, forcing Azmoun to watch the World Cup tournament from his couch.
But the political punishment the Iranian regime imposed backfired on the field. Without Azmoun, who holds an impressive record of 57 goals in 91 international appearances, Iran delivered an embarrassing World Cup performance and was eliminated in the group stage after a string of draws against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. The absence of offensive firepower and public outrage in Iran forced federation chairman Mehdi Taj to meet with the player in Tehran and approve his return.
1+Azmoun himself quickly posted a conciliatory message on social media after being recalled, writing: “Since 2014 I’ve been through everything in this shirt. I never felt disconnected from the national team, and I’m happy for the opportunity to fight again for the country.” Still, the return of the striker—considered one of the regime’s most vocal critics—underscores once again how deeply sports in Iran are subject to the cynical political dictates of the ayatollahs.