Iran striker expelled from national team ahead of World Cup for disloyalty to governmentSardar Azmoun, one of Iran’s top soccer players, has been expelled from the national team for a perceived act of disloyalty to the government, Iranian media has reported, making it unlikely he will play any part in the World Cup. Iran’s participation in the World Cup as a whole is under a cloud because of the ongoing conflict with the United States, who are co-hosting the June 11-July 19 tournament with Mexico and Canada. A report on the Fars News Agency, which has links to the hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, cited “an informed source within the national team” as saying Azmoun had been expelled from the squad. Misaghi was speaking against the backdrop of pictures of a ceremony welcoming the Iranian women’s national team back to Tehran on their return from Australia. Iran’s men are scheduled to play friendly internationals in Antalya, Turkey against Nigeria on March 27 and Costa Rica four days later as part of their World Cup preparations.

Source: Daily Nation March 20, 2026 19:53 UTC