Trump says Australia ‘sponsored’ some Iranian female footballers | Football news

The players’ union FIFPRO expressed serious concern to the team after criticism of not singing the national anthem before the first match.

United States President Donald Trump has said Australia has “looked after” five visiting members of Iran’s women’s football team, who will face punishment for not singing their national anthem upon their return.

Trump, currently waging war against Iran alongside ally Israel, spoke to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about the “delicate situation” the team faced after participating in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 in Queensland, and Albanese was “over it!”

“Five have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way. Some, however, think they should go back because they are worried about the safety of their families, including threats to those family members if they don’t come back,” the US president said on his Truth social network.

According to local media reports, Trump was seen referring to five players who were said to be under the protection of the Australian Federal Police after the event on Queensland’s Gold Coast, who were “broken” and seeking help from the government.

Australia’s SBS News said government sources confirmed the reports late on Monday, saying Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke had flown to Brisbane to meet the women.

Earlier, the US president had called on the Albanians to “give shelter” to the team, which crashed out of the tournament on Sunday after losing their last group game against the Philippines, warning it would be a “terrible humanitarian mistake” if the captain was allowed to be “forced back to Iran”.

Iranians’ participation in the event began just as the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran that killed the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on February 28.

The players’ decision to stand in silence during Iran’s anthem before their first match against South Korea was labeled “the height of disrespect” by commentators at Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.

The team sang the anthem and saluted before their second match against Australia, sparking fears among human rights campaigners that the women were reportedly coerced by government minders who escorted them everywhere.

Global football players’ union FIFPRO said on Monday it had serious concerns about the welfare of the squad, which is set to return home after being labeled “wartime traitors”.

Asked whether Australia would grant asylum to the players, Matt Thistlethwaite, assistant minister for foreign affairs and trade, told news agency Reuters he “cannot go into individual cases for privacy reasons”.

The Australian Federal Police and Queensland Police have so far declined to comment.

It is not known which members of the team are seeking asylum in Australia.