Some of Iran's female footballers do not want to return home. © APA/afp / STR

Iran's female footballers become a political issue

US President Donald Trump, in his usual forceful manner, has demanded asylum for Iran's female footballers from the Australian government – ​​and promised assistance from the USA in the event of a rejection.

March 09, 2026

From: dpa/sn

“Australia is making a grave humanitarian error by allowing the Iranian women’s national soccer team to be sent back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed. Don’t do this, Mr. Prime Minister! Grant them asylum! The US will take them in if you don’t,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. The post was shared by the official White House X account. The US and Israel have been engaged in a military conflict with Iran for days.

Previously, media outlets, including the television station CNN, reports that five members of the Iranian women's national football team have applied for asylum with the Australian authorities after being eliminated from the Asian Cup.

FIFA also reacts

Out of concern for their safety, the individuals left the team hotel and placed themselves in police custody, as reported. CNN The report, citing an unspecified source, stated that five players from the Iranian national team had secretly left the hotel and that the federation was attempting to contact them. According to the British news agency... PA The team that was eliminated on Sunday was still in Australia on Monday afternoon.

National coach Marziyeh Jafari wants to return. © ANSA / DAVE HUNT

"The safety of the Iranian women's national team is a top priority for FIFA," a spokesperson for the world football governing body said. PAThey are in close contact with the relevant authorities and associations. According to the Australian news agency, Iranian coach Marziyeh Jafari had AAP He said: “I want to be with my country and the Iranians in my homeland. We long to return.”

Problems because of the silent protest?

Recently, numerous organizations and civil society groups expressed concern that the players could face persecution by hardliners upon returning to their home country. This stemmed from the fact that the players remained silent during their national anthem in the first group match, a move interpreted as a protest against the Iranian regime.

Conservative commentators in Iran had denounced the team's behavior as a betrayal of the Iranian government. The team subsequently sang the national anthem and saluted during their last two matches. The scenes in Australia were reminiscent of the Iranian men's national team's behavior during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. There, too, the team remained silent before their first match and sang the national anthem again before their second – presumably under pressure from the federation.