Australia has granted asylum to five members of Iran’s women’s national soccer team following their perceived political stance during the Women’s Asian Cup and amid mounting pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump.
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The announcement was made by Australia’s Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, who confirmed that the players were transported from their hotel in Gold Coast to a secure location by federal police early Tuesday morning to begin processing for humanitarian visas.
Burke stated, “I say to the other members of the team the same opportunity is there. Australia has taken the Iranian women’s soccer team into our hearts.”
The asylum bids follow Trump’s intervention on social media, where he urged Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese not to send the players back to Iran, warning they could face severe persecution or even death. “Five have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way,” Trump posted, emphasizing the delicate nature of the situation and praising Australia’s handling of the matter.
The team drew international attention after refusing to sing Iran’s national anthem before their opening loss to South Korea, an act seen by some as resistance. Subsequently, the players sang the anthem and saluted before matches against Australia and the Philippines.
The Australian Iranian Council launched an online petition calling for protection of the players, citing credible fears of persecution in Iran, particularly amid the heightened wartime environment following the U.S.-Israel joint offensive against Iran that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iran head coach Marziyeh Jafari reportedly expressed that the team wishes to return to Iran as soon as possible. Nevertheless, Australia has made clear that discussions with officials remain open for any team members seeking safety.
Meanwhile, the escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted football schedules in the region. Graham Arnold, head coach of Iraq’s national team, has requested the postponement of their World Cup play-off against Bolivia or Suriname, scheduled for March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico. The closure of Iraqi airspace since late February has made travel for players and staff extremely difficult. Arnold highlighted that relying only on players based abroad would compromise Iraq’s chances in what could be its first World Cup appearance since 1986.
The Iraqi team earned its play-off spot after defeating the United Arab Emirates, and Arnold, along with the Iraqi Football Federation, is working to ensure adequate preparation for the critical match despite the unprecedented logistical challenges.
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