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Two Iranian women’s soccer players who decided to stay in Australia rather than return to their homeland amid a conflict with the United States and Israel were spotted training with a club on Monday.
Brisbane Roar posted photos on its Instagram account showing Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh with the professional club. It was their first publicly shared appearance since it emerged they were among the players granted asylum in the country.
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Iranian soccer player Atefeh Ramezanisadeh kicks a ball at a Brisbane Roar club training session in Brisbane, Australia, Monday, March 16, 2026. (Brisbane Roar via AP)
The two players were seen smiling without wearing hijabs as they posed with members of the Roar.
“We remain committed to providing them with a supportive environment as they navigate the next stages,” Brisbane Roar CEO Kaz Patafta wrote in the social media post.
Ramezanisadeh commented: “Thank you for everything.”
The club plays in Australia’s elite A-League women’s division. The club declined further comment and referred all questions to Australia’s Department of Home Affairs. Brisbane offered Iranian women’s soccer players a “place to train, play and belong” last week.
SOME IRANIAN FOOTBALL PLAYERS GRANTED ASYLUM BY AUSTRALIA CHOSE TO RETURN HOME, LOCAL OFFICIAL SAYS
Iranian soccer player Fatemeh Pasandideh kicks a ball at a Brisbane Roar club training session in Brisbane, Australia, Monday, March 16, 2026. (Brisbane Roar via AP)
The Australian government offered each member of the Iranian women’s soccer team asylum when they left to go back to Iran last week. The match resulted in seven members of the team remaining in Australia. But at least five left the country to return to their club afterwards.
President Donald Trump was among world leaders who urged Australia to grant the women asylum.
At least one Iranian television station called the women “wartime traitors” when they did not appear to sing their national anthem before a women’s Asian Cup match.
An Iranian official rejected suggestions that the women would be unsafe if they returned home.
“Iran welcomes its children with open arms and the government guarantees their safety,” said Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref. “No one has the right to interfere in the family affairs of the Iranian nation and play the role of a nanny who is kinder than a mother.”
Iranian soccer players Fatemeh Pasandideh, fourth from right, front row, and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, fourth from left, front row, pose for a photo with the Brisbane Roar women’s A-League team at a training session in Brisbane, Australia, Monday, March 16, 2026. (Brisbane Roar via AP)
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The rest of the team flew from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur and then to Oman.
