“When people were saying it would be impossible for Iran to come to the World Cup, I told them, and I promised them, that they would come,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said. “If I had to go with a bus to Tehran and drive them here, I will do that.”
In the end, the bus left for the World Cup in one form or another. Iran flew from their pre-tournament training camp in Antalya, Turkey, landing in the Mexican city of Tijuana ahead of their Group G fixtures.
Sardar Azmoun was not on the plane. An injury had not ended his hopes. A visa issue had not prevented him from travelling. He was simply not selected.
“I am very sad,” Azmoun told Iranian sports news outlet Varzesh3.
To adapt Infantino’s own words: when people were saying it would be impossible for Iran to come to this World Cup, in the end it only proved impossible for Azmoun himself.
Table of Contents
Who Is Sardar Azmoun?
Azmoun is Iran’s third-highest international goalscorer of all time, behind only Ali Daei and Mehdi Taremi. He has earned 91 caps and scored 57 international goals — a record that places him firmly among the most accomplished footballers the country has ever produced.
| Sardar Azmoun — Career Overview | Stat |
|---|---|
| International caps | 91 |
| International goals | 57 (3rd all-time for Iran) |
| Club career highlights | Zenit St Petersburg (x4 Russian league titles), Bayer Leverkusen, Roma, Shabab Al Ahli |
| Russian Premier League Player of the Year | 2021 |
At Zenit, where he was named Russian Premier League Player of the Year in 2021, an air of mystique followed him in Champions League competition. Online, he was dubbed — somewhat exaggeratedly, but meaningfully — the “Iranian Messi”: less a direct parallel, more an acknowledgement of his status as the finest player his region has produced.
He was the most expensive Iranian footballer until Alireza Jahanbakhsh’s €22.5 million move from AZ to Brighton in 2021. He had stints at Bayer Leverkusen and Roma after leaving Zenit four years ago. At 31, he should still be at or near his peak. This World Cup would almost certainly have been his third and final involvement in the tournament.
The Real Reason: Politics, Not Fitness
The official narrative from Iranian state media was that Azmoun was injured when coach Amir Ghalenoei announced his preliminary squad. Azmoun’s own Instagram response told a different story — he was hurt, but not physically.
“I have always played for my national team with pride,” he wrote. “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. I love football, and I love the good and deserving people of my country, Iran.“
The real explanation appears to be rooted in a photograph.
In January, Azmoun posted an image of himself meeting Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, at Shabab Al Ahli — the club he joined in the United Arab Emirates after leaving Roma.
In a Telegram post, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) described this as “co-operation with Iran’s enemies.” The post also noted that Azmoun had remained silent while what they described as the “American and Zionist regime” bombed his homeland.
The context matters. Since Operation Epic Fury began at the end of February, Iran has been at the centre of a severe regional conflict. The Wall Street Journal reported in May that the UAE had secretly carried out attacks on Iran. In turn, the UAE reported being targeted by Iran, claiming Iranian forces launched 2,265 drones, 551 ballistic missiles, and 29 cruise missiles — causing 13 deaths and 230 injuries in the UAE.
The photograph of Azmoun with the Dubai ruler, set against this backdrop, was politically toxic in Iran. When friendlies against Nigeria and Costa Rica were organised in March, Azmoun was not named. When Ghalenoei announced his preliminary World Cup squad last month, Azmoun was absent again.
A History of Speaking Out
Azmoun’s position is further complicated — and illuminated — by his previous willingness to speak out on political matters at significant personal risk.
In 2022, following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody — which ignited nationwide protests and the Woman, Life, Freedom movement — Azmoun did not stay silent.
“At worst, I’ll be dismissed from the national team,” he wrote at the time. “No problem. I’d sacrifice that for one hair on the heads of Iranian women. This story will not be deleted. They can do whatever they want. Shame on you for killing so easily; long live Iranian women.”
It was an extraordinary statement from a footballer still hoping to represent his national team. He accepted the risk explicitly. Those words, combined with his more recent social media activity and the photograph in Dubai, have made his political position within Iran’s current environment deeply complicated — regardless of his football ability.
“I know I could’ve been of help at this time,” Azmoun said to Varzesh3. “But the other forwards all have great technical ability and hopefully they can fill my role. They’re all great players, and I believe they can help.”
He added: “I have lots of things to say, but right now is not the time to say it.”
Who Has Replaced Him?
His place in the squad has been taken by Dennis Eckert — or Dennis Dargahi, the name on his new Iranian passport. Dargahi was born in Bonn, Germany, to a German father of Iranian descent, and previously represented Germany at under-19 level. He was uncapped heading into the tournament.
At 29, he is hardly a young prospect. Playing for Standard Liège in Belgium last season, he scored five goals in 35 league appearances. He is not, by any reasonable measure, the next Azmoun.
The contrast is stark. Azmoun is Iran’s third-highest scorer of all time with 91 caps. Dargahi has none.
What Ghalenoei Said
When asked about the absence on the eve of Iran’s opening match against New Zealand, coach Ghalenoei was brief: “Sardar is an excellent player, he has done a lot for us, he is not with us, we wish he was, but this is football. I will give you an example: Neymar, it’s possible he won’t play in some games.”
The comparison drew its own conclusions — and raised its own questions about the nature of the decision.
Azmoun’s Final Message
From outside the tournament, Azmoun has not directed bitterness at his teammates or his nation.
“In my opinion, everyone should know: I am Iranian, my blood is from Iran,” he said. “Even if my club team gave me a one-day break, I would return to Iran quickly just for a day before coming back to train. This is the type of person I am. That’s why I’m mad.”
He told his team and country to “go out there and smash it.”
His most recent international goal — the 57th across 91 caps — came against the UAE in March last year. The ultimate footnote, given the political context that followed.
FAQs
Why was Sardar Azmoun not selected for Iran’s World Cup 2026 squad?
Iranian state media cited injury, but Azmoun’s response on social media suggested he was emotionally rather than physically hurt. Reports indicate his exclusion is linked to a photograph he posted of himself with Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps described as “co-operation with Iran’s enemies” amid ongoing regional conflict.
Who is Sardar Azmoun and how significant is his absence?
Azmoun is Iran’s third-highest international goalscorer of all time with 57 goals in 91 caps, behind only Ali Daei and Mehdi Taremi. He was Russian Premier League Player of the Year in 2021 and has played for Bayer Leverkusen and Roma. His absence is widely considered Iran’s most significant squad omission.
Who replaced Azmoun in Iran’s World Cup squad?
Dennis Eckert — who uses the name Dennis Dargahi on his Iranian passport — was selected in his place. Born in Bonn to a German father of Iranian descent, Dargahi was uncapped at senior level heading into the tournament and scored five goals in 35 league appearances for Standard Liège last season.
Has Azmoun spoken out politically before?
Yes. In 2022, following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody and the Woman, Life, Freedom protests, Azmoun publicly posted his support for Iranian women, writing: “At worst, I’ll be dismissed from the national team. No problem. I’d sacrifice that for one hair on the heads of Iranian women.”
What did Azmoun say about his World Cup exclusion?
Azmoun told Iranian outlet Varzesh3 that he was “very sad” and knew he could have helped the team. He said he had “lots of things to say, but right now is not the time.” He also publicly encouraged Iran to “go out there and smash it” despite his absence.
