US EditionMost of Iranian women’s soccer team left Australia after declining last-minute airport asylum offers
Seven members of Iran’s women’s football team were granted humanitarian visas in Australia amid fears of persecution; one player later reversed her decision, prompting security relocations.
- Australian police helped two members of the Iranian women's soccer team claim asylum before the rest of the team left for Kuala Lumpur on their way back to Iran.
- A group of Iranians living in Australia protested against the Iranian government and surrounded the players' bus when they left for the airport.
- Some players felt they had to return to Iran due to concerns about the safety of their families.
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70 Articles
Some Iranian women's national soccer team players who refused to sing the national anthem at the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia have applied for asylum. One player has reversed her decision and decided to return to Iran. It has been suggested that pressure from Iran may have been behind the change in decision.
When the Iranian women's national football team chose to remain silent during the national anthem before an Asian Cup match in Australia, it raised concerns for the players' safety. Six of the players have now been granted asylum in Australia.
Iranian Soccer Player Who Accepted Asylum Changes Mind, Exposes Teammates' Safehouse
Five members of Iran's women's national soccer team are staying in Australia after accepting asylum following their silent national anthem protest at the Asian Cup.Two more members of the group initially agreed to remain as well, but one later changed her mind and returned to Iran — while also exposing the secret location where the others had been taken for safety.According to multiple reports, five players from the Iranian squad originally acce…
A player from the Iranian national football team who chose to seek asylum in Australia has regretted it. According to experts, it may be a threat to family back home. “The signals coming from Iran mean that they had reason to be scared,” says Mohammad Fazlhashemi.
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