ANTALYA, Turkey (AP) — Excluded from Iran’s soccer squad for the World Cup in what seemed to be a political decision, former star forward Sardar Azmoun posted his support for teammates on social media Tuesday.Iran squad members who play for clubs at home arrived in Turkey on Monday for an extended training camp ahead of traveling to the United States early in June. They are preparing to play three group-stage games, at Inglewood, California and Seattle.Azmoun, who played at the last two World Cups, has not been selected since posting a photograph on social media in March that angered Iranian authorities during the war with the U.S. and Israel.“Wishing you all the best, guys,” Azmoun wrote in Farsi on his Instagram account that has 5.8 million followers. “It’s true that I’m not there with you, but you are my friends and there is no reason not to wish you success.”
The 31-year-old Azmoun is a great in Iranian soccer with 57 career goals in 91 appearances.Azmoun now plays in Dubai for the Shabab Al-Ahli club. In March he posted a photo, later deleted, of himself with the emirate’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
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The United Arab Emirates has normalized diplomatic relations with Israel since 2020, and has been targeted by Iranian drones in the regional conflict that started on Feb. 28.Azmoun wrote Tuesday that: “A lot of people are trying to bring me down, but these things being said aren’t true at all.”
