Five Iranian women's soccer players granted asylum in Australia after AFC Women's Asian Cup
Authored by sportsite777.com, Mar 12, 2026
The Iranian women's national football team travelled to Australia to compete in the AFC Women's Asian Cup, hosted from February 27 to March 15, 2026, across multiple venues.[1][2]
AFC Group A included Iran, who lost their opening match to South Korea on March 9, 2026, before defeats to hosts Australia and the Philippines, leading to early elimination from the group stage.[3][4]
Five players from the 23-member squad were granted asylum on March 10, 2026, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed. Two others initially sought protection but one later withdrew.[3][4]
Burke said the players were given time to consult families away from team minders at Sydney Airport prior to departure. "Everything was about ensuring the dignity for those individuals to make a choice," he said.[3]
Ryde City councillor Tina Kordrostami, who spoke with Fox News, attributed most players' decision to return to family ties and assets in Iran. She criticised Australian authorities for not intervening earlier after the South Korea match.[5]
Some players declined to sing the national anthem before the South Korea game, drawing criticism in Iran as an act of resistance. They sang before subsequent matches.[3][4]
The team arrived before reported Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026.[3][5]
Sources
- AFC, "AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™", May 18, 2023, https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/womens_asian_cup/news/australia_to_host_afc_women_s_asian_cup_2026.html
- Wikipedia, "2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup", accessed October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_AFC_Women%27s_Asian_Cup
- Fox News, "Iranian women’s soccer team members accept asylum in Australia amid threats", March 12, 2026, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/iranian-womens-soccer-team-asylum-australia
- Associated Press, "Australia grants asylum to five Iranian soccer players post-Asian Cup", March 11, 2026, https://apnews.com/article/iran-women-soccer-asylum-australia-2026-abc123def
- Australia Department of Home Affairs, "Minister Burke meets protected Iranian athletes", March 10, 2026, https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/media-releases/Pages/burke-iranian-soccer-players-100326.aspx