Iranian VP urges striker Azmoun's return

He was omitted from the initial squad

TEHRAN:

An Iranian vice president called Monday for striker Sardar Azmoun, who faced allegations of treason from Iran's state media, to be reinstated to the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Azmoun was omitted from the initial squad list drawn up by the team's manager, as the team prepared for a tournament co-hosted by the Islamic republic's foe, the United States.

"The need of the homeland is to preserve the threads of connection between its children," Vice President Abdolkarim Hosseinzadeh wrote on X, as the team held a training camp in Turkey.

"Let us not overlook Sardar Azmoun's action in displaying this bond, and if possible, bring him back to the national team," he added.

The call comes after Azmoun, 31, said in an Instagram post he had once rejected "a very large financial offer from another country" and described himself as "a son of Iran".

"Wherever I play football, my identity, my heart, and my pride are Iran," he wrote, wishing "success and pride" for the national team.

Sports journalists in Iran have also speculated that Azmoun could still be added to the squad before the deadline to finalise selections for the World Cup.

Azmoun, who has scored 57 goals for Iran and previously played club football for Bayer Leverkusen and AS Roma, has previously voiced support for anti-government protesters.

He has also faced criticism in Iranian state media, including accusations of treason after a photograph published in March showed him alongside the Emir of Dubai, where he currently plays and resides.

Head coach Amir Ghalenoei has said squad selection was "the most difficult technical decision" of his career, adding that players were chosen solely on technical criteria. AFP