Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced at a news conference on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, that one additional player from the Iranian women's national soccer team and one team staffer have accepted asylum in Australia, following five players who accepted on Sunday, March 8.[1]

Burke said nearly all the Iranian players and many support staff were individually screened by Australian customs officials at an airport before their return flight to Iran. Each was offered asylum privately, without Iranian state officials present, and some accepted.[1]

The Iranian team had travelled to Australia for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026, the continental championship hosted by Australia for the first time.[2][3]

Iranian players were pictured during their national anthem ahead of a group-stage match against the Philippines at Robina Stadium, Gold Coast, on Sunday, March 8.[1]

The team recorded an opening loss to South Korea on March 2 without singing the anthem, an action described by some as resistance. They did not advance from the group but sang the anthem before losses to Australia and the Philippines.[1]

Burke commented: "These women are tremendously popular in Australia, but we realize they are in a terribly difficult situation with the decisions that they’re making. The opportunity will continue to be there for them to talk to Australian officials if they wish to."[1]

Iran head coach Marziyeh Jafari told Australia's national news agency that the team wanted "to come back to Iran as soon as we can."[1]

Iran's women's national team, currently coached by Marziyeh Jafari and ranked 64th in FIFA standings, has a history of anthem protests at Asian Cup events, including silence during their 2022 opener in India.[4][5][6]

Sources

1. Fox News Digital, Sports coverage: Iranian women's soccer team asylum developments, March 10, 2026, https://www.foxnews.com/sports
2. The-AFC.com, Australia to host 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, 25 May 2023, https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/womens_asian_cup/news/australia_to_host_2026_afc_womens_asian_cup.html
3. ESPN, Australia to host 2026 women's Asian Cup, 25 May 2023, https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37687936/australia-host-2026-women-asian-cup
4. Wikipedia, Iran women's national football team, accessed October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_women%27s_national_football_team
5. Al Jazeera, Iranian women footballers refuse to sing national anthem, 21 January 2022, https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2022/1/21/iranian-women-footballers-refuse-to-sing-national-anthem
6. Hindustan Times, Iran women snub national anthem ahead of Asian Cup opener, 21 January 2022, https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/others/iran-women-snub-national-anthem-ahead-of-asian-cup-opener-10164308578883.html