Sardar Azmoun recalled to Iran national football team

Sardar Azmoun has been recalled to the Iran national football team by coach Amir Ghalenoei for upcoming friendly matches against Uzbekistan and Russia. The striker, who has 57 goals in 91 appearances, had been excluded from the squad for the 2026 World Cup.

Azmoun’s previous omission followed controversy surrounding an Instagram post featuring political figures from the United Arab Emirates, which led to accusations of unpatriotic behavior. Some reports suggested his exclusion may have also been linked to his past criticisms of the Iranian political system.

Upon his return, Azmoun expressed his happiness on social media, stating, “This journey hasn’t always gone the way I’d hoped... But I’ve never stopped loving this shirt.” His recall comes as the team prepares for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

The national team squad also features significant roster changes, with several new players being called up while others, such as Rozbe Cheshmi and Ali Jalalpour, are absent from the current list.