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Israel’s foreign ministry praised members of Iran’s women’s national soccer team after they appeared to take a political stance by remaining silent during their country’s national anthem at the Women’s Asian Cup. The show of support comes as five players have secured asylum in Australia while uncertainty surrounds the remaining 21 squad members.
In a message posted on X, Israel praised the women for their “courage” and added that “the world is watching.”
Team Iran listens to national anthems before the AFC Women’s Asian Cup match against South Korea in Gold Coast on March 2, 2026. (Izhar Khan/AFP)
“Sometimes silence is against,” read the post on X. “To the women of Iran’s citizen [soccer] team that refused to sing the regime’s anthem, we applaud your courage! Stay safe. The world is watching.”
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The post included a photo with a similar message that read: “To the brave Iranian women on the national team, the world sees your courage.”
The situation with the Iranian women’s soccer team began after the team arrived in Australia for the tournament last month. The team was already there when the US launched a joint military operation with Israel against Iran.
In the team’s opening match against South Korea, the squad stood silent during the national anthem as Iranian head coach Marziyeh Jafari, also silent, smiled at his team. The silence was interpreted by some as an act of resistance. However, in the subsequent match against Australia and the subsequent match that led to their elimination, the team sang along and saluted during the national anthem.
Iran players react during their national anthem ahead of the Women’s Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAP photo via AP)
Concern for the team after the tournament prompted the Australian Iranian Council to launch an online petition calling on Australian authorities to “ensure that no member of the Iran women’s national football team leaves Australia while there remains a credible fear for their safety.”
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President Donald Trump also weighed in, stating that the US would “take them” if Australia did not grant them asylum.
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced on Tuesday that five women were transported from their Gold Coast hotel “to a safe location” by federal police officers, where they later met with him and began processing their humanitarian visas.
“I tell the other members of the team that the same opportunity is there,” he said. “Australia has taken the Iranian women’s football team into our hearts.”
Islamic Republic of Iran players line up for the national anthems ahead of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 match between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Australia Matildas at Gold Coast Stadium in Gold Coast, Australia on March 5, 2026. (Albert Perez/Getty Images)
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The women who were granted asylum were happy to have their names and photos published, Burke said, but added that the players wanted to make it clear they were “not political activists.”
Protesters tried to stop the team bus from leaving Tuesday outside the hotel they were staying at. The remaining members of the team and coaches flew to Sydney Airport, where police evicted protesters from the international terminal before the team boarded an international flight to Kuala Lumpur, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.
