Iranian FA chief unaware of Azmoun World Cup call-up plans

May 29 : Iranian FA chief Mehdi Taj said on Thursday he was unaware of any plans to bring striker Sardar Azmoun into Iran's World Cup squad despite an appeal for his recall from a vice president of the Islamic Republic. 

Azmoun, who has scored 57 goals in 91 internationals, was left out of coach Amir Ghalenoei's preliminary squad amid local media reports that he had been excluded for disloyalty to the government. 

The 31-year-old issued an impassioned proclamation of his patriotism last week, triggering Monday's appeal from Vice President Abdolkarim Hosseinzadeh. 

"If possible, let us bring him back to the national team," Hosseinzadeh wrote on X. 

"This is not merely a sporting decision, but a message in favour of national unity."

Taj, speaking to Iranian TV on Thursday, said he had no information about a call-up for Azmoun, adding when pressed on the issue: "This matter will be followed up through the proper discussions. As for Mr. Sardar, I'm not currently aware of his situation." 

According to media reports in Iran, Azmoun upset hardline government supporters when he posted a picture of a meeting with Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, shortly after the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on Iran. 

Iran considers the United Arab Emirates, where Azmoun plays his club football, a belligerent in the war that followed the air strikes.

VISA WAIT

The preliminary World Cup squad are currently at a training camp in Turkey but time is running out for Azmoun with the final 26-man line-up set to be decided before FIFA's deadline on Monday.  

The selected players will now travel to Tijuana, Mexico rather than Tucson, Arizona to set up their tournament base next week. 

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo said on