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Three of the six Iranian women’s soccer players who accepted asylum in Australia are returning to Iran, according to Tina Kordrostami, a councilor for the Australian city of Ryde.
Kordrostami told Pakinomist Channel’s “Fox Report With Jon Scott” Saturday that the three players are returning, calling it a “disturbing update,” but she could not discuss specific reasons why.
“They are heavily intimidated and communicated directly to by the regime,” Kordrostami said.
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Iranian players react during their national anthem ahead of a women’s Asian Cup soccer match against the Philippines in Robina, Australia on March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAP photo via AP)
When asked if the players are being threatened, Kordrostami said: “I don’t think so, I don’t know.
“I know that families have even been detained. I know that family members are missing. One thing I really want people in the West to understand is that Iranians in the country have in many ways abandoned the West and they only depend on each other to survive this regime.
“So when we offer them a way out, it’s often not so easy for them to understand that it’s actually a way out. They’re more used to trusting each other, and it’s survival for them.”
Kordrostami added that the women who return face potentially serious consequences.
“We’re very worried about them. We know for a fact that they won’t be safe. I’ve mentioned it before. When you break a contract as an athlete in Iran, you can face the death penalty. So I know these women are young. I know they’re making an incredibly difficult decision and I have the utmost respect for them,” she said.
“Coercion is being used here, intimidation tactics. And we even had one person among the girls in Sydney and Brisbane constantly influencing them in their ear, telling them that whatever Australia is offering them, it won’t work.
The team arrived in Australia before Israel and the The United States launched a joint offensive against Iran February 28. The attacks led to the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
IRANIAN WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM REFUSES TO SING NATIONAL ANTHEM IN SILENT PROTEST AT ASIAN CUP
Iranian players refused to sing their national anthem before an opening loss to South Korea on 2 March, which was seen by some as an act of defiance described by an Iranian commentator as “the pinnacle of disgrace”.
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced at a press conference on Tuesday that another Iranian women’s soccer player and a team employee had accepted asylum in Australia over fears of punishment on return to Iran after five players accepted asylum on Sunday.
Burke added that almost everyone Iranian players and many of the support staff were taken aside individually as they passed through Australian customs at an airport before boarding their flights back to Iran.
And they were each given the opportunity to accept an asylum offer without Iranian government officials present, but other players or staff accepted the offer to stay.
The asylum offers came in the middle increased pressure from President Donald Trump and Iranian groups in Australia.
“Australia is making one terrible humanitarian mistake to allow Iran’s national women’s soccer team must be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed. Don’t do it Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYL. America will take them if you don’t,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump later wrote: “I just spoke with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia about the Iran women’s national soccer team.
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Iranian players during their national anthem ahead of a women’s Asian Cup soccer match against the Philippines in Robina, Australia on March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAPImage via AP)
“He’s on the move! Five have already been taken care of and the rest are on their way. However, some feel they must return because they are concerned about the safety of their families, including threats to those family members if they don’t return. In any case, the Prime Minister is doing a very good job with this rather sensitive situation. God bless Australia!”
Iran head coach Marziyeh Jafari was quoted as saying on Australia’s national news agency that the team wants “to return to Iran as soon as we can.”
