Azmoun left out of preliminary Iran World Cup squad

May 17 : Iran's attacking talisman Sardar Azmoun was a notable absence from coach Amir Ghalenoei's preliminary World Cup squad as the team gear up for the tournament in North America amid diplomatic tensions surrounding their participation.

Ghalenoei did not explain the reason for omitting Azmoun, who has scored 57 goals in 91 internationals, but Iran's state news agency IRNA reported that the former Bayer Leverkusen and AS Roma striker was left out due to injury.

Azmoun, who plays for Shabab Al-Ahli in the United Arab Emirates, was also omitted from the Iran squad in March, with local media reporting he had been expelled from the national team for a perceived act of disloyalty to the government.

Azmoun posted a picture on his Instagram feed in March of a meeting with Dubai’s ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Iran had launched rocket and drone attacks on the UAE, following air strikes by the United States and Israel, which killed the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah ‌Ali ⁠Khamenei.

The 30-man squad was announced on Saturday, before Iran head to Turkey next week to continue their tournament preparations.

Veterans Mehdi Taremi, who plays for Olympiacos, and former Brighton & Hove Albion winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh were included in the squad.

Iran's participation in the June 11 to July 19 tournament has been in question since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February.

Iran's Football Federation (FFIRI) President Mehdi Taj was refused entry to Canada for the FIFA Congress in Vancouver in April because of his links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The U.S. and Canada, which are co-hosting the World Cup with Mexico, classify the IRGC as a "terrorist entity" and have made it clear they will not admit