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Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced at a news conference on Tuesday that another Iranian footballer and a team staff member had accepted asylum in Australia, fearing punishment upon return to Iran, after five players accepted asylum on Sunday.
Burke added that almost all of the Iranian players and many support staff were taken aside, individually, as they passed through Australian customs at an airport before boarding their flight back to Iran.
And they each had the option to accept an offer of asylum without Iranian state officials present, but other players or staff accepted the offer to stay.
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Iranian players react during their national anthem before a Women’s Asian Cup soccer match against the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)
The asylum requests came amid increased pressure from President Donald Trump on Monday and Iranian groups in Australia.
“Australia is in the process of achieving a terrible humanitarian error in allowing the Iranian women’s national football team will be forced to return to Iran, where they will most likely be killed. Don’t do it, Prime Minister, give ASYLUM. The United States will take them if you don’t,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump later wrote: “I just spoke to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, regarding the Iranian women’s national soccer team.
“He’s here! Five have already been picked up and the rest are on their way. Some, however, feel they need to return because they are worried about the safety of their families, including threats to their family members if they don’t return. Regardless, the Prime Minister is doing a very good job dealing with this rather delicate situation. God bless Australia!”
The team arrived in Australia before Israel and The United States launches a joint offensive against Iran on February 28. The strikes led to the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
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Iranian players during their national anthem before the Women’s Asian Cup against the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAPImage via AP)
Iranian players refused to sing their national anthem before a first defeat against South Korea on March 2, which was seen by some as an act of resistance described by an Iranian commentator as “the height of dishonor”.
The team did not qualify, but the players sang the anthem and saluted before their losses to Australia and the Philippines.
“These women are extremely popular in Australia, but we realize they are in a terribly difficult situation with the decisions they are making,” Burke said. “They will still have the opportunity to speak to Australian officials if they wish.”
The Australian Iran Council has launched an online petition urging Australian authorities to “ensure that no member of the Iranian women’s national football team leaves Australia while credible fears about their safety remain.”
“When there is credible evidence that visiting athletes may be persecuted, imprisoned, coerced or worse upon their return, silence is not a neutral position,” the petition adds. “The current war environment has intensified the repression, fear and risks faced by anyone publicly perceived by the Islamic Republic to be disloyal. »
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Iranian players pose for a team photo before a Women’s Asian Cup soccer match against the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAPImage via AP, File)
Iran head coach Marziyeh Jafari reportedly told Australia’s national news agency that the team wanted to “return to Iran as soon as possible.”
