Azmoun, who plays for Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, tore a calf muscle in early October and will be battling to be fit for Iran's opening encounter.
On Monday, Iran nominated Sardar Azmoun, their top player who has shown sympathy for the Iranian protests on many occasions, to their final 25-man World Cup team. Azmoun, who plays for the German club Bayer Leverkusen, tore a calf muscle in early October and will have to struggle to be fit for Iran's opening encounter of the tournament against England on November 21 in Qatar. The 27-year-old forward has shown his support for the Iranian demonstrations caused by the murder of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini on social media. Azmoun's Instagram account, which has five million followers, was briefly suspended before resuming operations.
Activists have asked spectators attending Iran's World Cup matches to sing Amini's name. In the World Cup group stage, Iran will also face Wales on November 25 and the United States on November 29.
Amir Abedzadeh (Ponferradina/ESP), Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis), Hossein Hosseini (Esteghlal), and Payam Niazmand are the goalkeepers (Sepahan)
Defenders include Sadegh Moharrami (Dinamo Zagreb/CRO), Ehsan Hajsafi (AEK Athens/GRE), Shoja Khalilzadeh (Al Ahli/QAT), Milad Mohammadi (AEK Athens/GRE), Morteza Pouraliganji (Persepolis), Hossein Kanaani (Al Ahli/QAT), Majid Hossein (Esteghlal)
Saeid Ezatolahi (Vejle BK/DEN), Saman Ghoddos (Brentford/ENG), Ahmad Nourollahi (Shabab Al-Ahli/UAE), Roozbeh Chechmi (Esteghlal), Ali Karimi (Kayserispor/TUR) are among the midfielders.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Feyenoord/NED), Mehdi Taremi (Porto/POR), Karim Ansarifard (Omonia Nicosia/CYP), Vahid Amiri (Persepolis), Mehdi Torabi (Persepolis), Ali Gholizadeh (Charleroi/BEL), Sardar Azmoun (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Sardar