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Earlier this month Australia has granted asylum to five members of the Iranian women’s soccer team, who were visiting the country for a tournament as the United States and Israel launched a joint military campaign against the country. However, the remaining members of the team faced uncertainty.
After the team was knocked out of the Women’s Asian Cup, most of the players who originally sought asylum later changed their minds.
On Wednesday, all but two ultimately returned to Iran after rejecting asylum offers in Australia, according to unconfirmed Iranian state media.
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Video circulating on social media showed soccer players entering Iran after a plane landed in Turkey. The same athletes were earlier seen traveling across the country by bus shortly after the plane returned to Iran. Several officials were reportedly present at the border when the soccer team arrived.
Members of Iran’s women’s soccer team board a bus at Igdir airport to reach Dogubeyazit, in Igdir on March 18, 2026. The Iran women’s national soccer team landed at Istanbul Airport on March 17, 2026, after several members of the delegation withdrew their asylum bids in Australia. (Ali IHSAN OZTURK/AFP via Getty Images)
Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh were the two members of the Iranian national team who reportedly chose to remain in Australia. Both have trained with the Brisbane Roar club.
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Iran’s team arrived in Australia for the tournament shortly before the war began on 28 February. The team initially gained global attention after some players remained silent during Iran’s national anthem before their first match.
Members of Iran’s women’s soccer team leave Igdir airport waiting to reach Dogubeyazit, in Igdir on March 18, 2026. The Iran women’s national soccer team landed at Istanbul Airport on March 17, 2026, after several members of the delegation withdrew their asylum bids in Australia. (Ali IHSAN OZTURK/AFP via Getty Images)
With the team knocked out of the tournament and facing the prospect of returning to a country under bombardment, calls grew for Australia’s government to offer the women asylum. Iranian groups in Australia and President Donald Trump were among those expressing fears for the women’s safety.
Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref last week rejected suggestions that the women would be unsafe if they returned home, saying the country “welcomes its children with open arms and the government guarantees their safety.”
Trump also commented on Iran’s men’s World Cup participation, suggesting last week that while the squad is “welcome” to compete in the United States after qualifying, it may not be “appropriate.”
Iran’s players pose for a team photo ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asia zone qualifiers group A soccer match between Iran and North Korea at the Azadi Sports Complex in Tehran on June 10, 2025. (ATTA KENARE/AFP)
“Iran’s national soccer team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don’t think it’s appropriate for them to be there for their own lives and safety,” Trump wrote in a post to the March 12 Truth Social post.
Iran’s men’s team is scheduled to play in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15. It is also scheduled to face Belgium on June 21 before finishing group play against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The USA will host the tournament with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
