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Australia on Monday granted asylum to five members of the Iranian women’s soccer team, following their perceived political stance during the Women’s Asian Cup and pressure from President Donald Trump.
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke made the announcement. The women were transported from their hotel in Gold Coast, Australia, “to a safe location” by officers of the country’s federal police in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
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In this photo provided by the office of Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, Minister Tony Burke, center, poses at an undisclosed location with five Iranian female footballers who have been granted asylum in Australia, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (Australian Department of Home Affairs via AP)
The players then met with Burke and began processing their humanitarian visas, he said.
“I tell other members of the team that the same opportunity is there,” Burke said. “Australia has taken the Iranian women’s football team into our hearts.”
The asylum requests came amid increased pressure from Trump on Monday and from Iranian groups in Australia.
“Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iranian women’s national football team to be forcibly returned to Iran, where they will most likely be killed. Don’t do it Prime Minister, give ASYLUM. The US will take them if you don’t,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“I just spoke to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about the Iranian women’s national soccer team,” Trump added later. He’s on it! Five have already been taken care of and the others are on the way. Some, however, feel that they must return because they are worried about the safety of their families, including fear that their family members will be threatened if they do not return. Regardless, the Prime Minister is doing a very good job dealing with this rather delicate situation. God bless Australia! »
Iranian players pose for a team photo before the Women’s Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAPImage via AP, File)
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The team arrived in Australia before Israel and the United States launched a joint offensive against Iran on February 28. The strikes led to the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iranian players refused to sing their national anthem before the defeat to South Korea last Monday, in what was seen by some as an act of resistance, described by one Iranian commentator as “the height of dishonor.”
The team did not specify. But the players sang the anthem and saluted before their defeats 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-Iranian 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”.
Iranian fans wave flags during the Women’s Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAPImage via AP)
“When there is credible evidence that visiting athletes risk persecution, imprisonment, coercion or worse upon their return, silence is not a neutral position,” the petition states. “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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Iran head coach Marziyeh Jafari reportedly told Australia’s national news agency that the team wanted to “return to Iran as soon as possible.”
