Sardar Azmoun’s World Cup Absence for Political Reasons Divides Opinion in Iran

TL;DR

Sardar Azmoun, a key striker for Iran, has been left out of the preliminary World Cup squad.
His exclusion is widely believed to be linked to his social media posts criticizing the Iranian regime, particularly after the death of Mahsa Amini.
Azmoun has a history of speaking out, expressing solidarity with Iranian women and criticizing authorities.
Other players, like Mehdi Taremi, have also voiced criticism of the government's actions.
A recent incident involving Azmoun meeting the ruler of Dubai, a country considered an antagonist by Tehran, further fueled controversy.
There are conflicting views on Azmoun's exclusion, with some advocating for his inclusion based on national unity and his importance to the team.
The coach, Amir Ghalenoei, cited 'technical reasons' for the squad selection and may be reluctant to reverse his decision.
The team's potential visa issues for the US and a switch in training camps add to the pre-tournament uncertainty.
Azmoun has expressed support for his teammates despite his own absence from the squad.

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