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Australia granted asylum to five members of Iran’s women’s soccer team on Monday following their perceived political stance during the Women’s Asian Cup and pressure from President Donald Trump.
This was announced by Australia’s Minister of Home Affairs, Tony Burke. The women were transported from their hotel in Gold Coast, Australia “to a place of safety” by federal police officers in the country in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
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In this photo provided by the office of Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, the minister Tony Burke, center, poses at an undisclosed location with five Iranian female soccer players who have been granted asylum in Australia, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (Australian Department of Home Affairs via AP)
The players then met with Burke and began processing their humanitarian visas, he said.
“I tell the other members of the team that the same opportunity is there,” Burke said. “Australia has taken the Iranian women’s football team into our hearts.”
The asylum applications came amid increased pressure from Trump on Monday and Iranian groups in Australia.
“Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran where they will most likely be killed. Don’t do it Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM. The US will take them if you don’t,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“I just spoke with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia about the Iran women’s national soccer team,” Trump later added. He’s on it! Five have already been taken care of and the rest are on the way. However, some feel they must go back because they are concerned about the safety of their families, including threats to those family members if they do not return. In any case, the Prime Minister is doing a very good job with this rather difficult situation. God bless Australia!”
Iran players pose for a team photo ahead of the Women’s Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAPImage via AP, File)
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The team arrived in Australia before Israel and the US launched a joint offensive against Iran on 28 February. The attacks led to the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iranian players refused to sing their national anthem before an opening loss to South Korea last Monday, seen by some as an act of defiance that one Iranian commentator called “the height of disgrace”.
The team did not clarify. But the players sang the anthem and saluted before their losses to Australia and the Philippines.
“These women are hugely popular in Australia but we realize they are in a terribly difficult situation with the decisions they are making,” Mr Burke said. “The option will continue to be there for them to speak to Australian officials if they wish.”
The Iranian Council of Australia launched an online petition calling on the Australian authorities to “ensure that no member of the Iran women’s national football team leaves Australia while there is still a credible fear for their safety.”
Iran supporters wave flags during the women’s Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAPImage via AP)
“Where credible evidence exists that visiting athletes may face persecution, imprisonment, coercion or worse upon return, silence is not a neutral position,” the petition reads. “The current wartime environment has intensified the repression, fear and risks faced by anyone publicly perceived by the Islamic Republic as disloyal.”
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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.”
