Iranian players react during their national anthem before the Women’s Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026.
Dave Hunt/AP
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Dave Hunt/AP
GOLD COAST, Australia – Australia has granted asylum to five members of Iran’s women’s soccer team who were visiting the country for a tournament when the Iran-Iran war broke out, a government minister said on Tuesday.
The announcement comes days after Iranian groups in Australia and US President Donald Trump urged the Australian government to help the women who have not spoken publicly about their desire to seek asylum. The team drew widespread speculation and news coverage in Australia when the players did not sing the Iranian national anthem before their first match.
Early Tuesday morning, Australian Federal Police officers transported five women from their hotel on Australia’s Gold Coast to a “place of safety” after making asylum requests. There he met Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and the process for his humanitarian visas had been finalised, the minister told reporters in Brisbane hours later.
“I don’t want to even begin to imagine how hard that decision must be for each of the women, but last night it was nice, it was a relief,” said Burke, who posted photos to social media of women smiling and clapping as they signed the documents. “People were very excited to start a life in Australia.”
He said that the women who received asylum were happy to have their names and pictures published. Burke added that he wants to make it clear that the players are “not political activists”.
21 in the team and the fate of others is unknown
Iran’s team arrived in Australia last month for the Women’s Asian Cup ahead of the start of the Iran War on February 28. The team crashed out of the tournament at the weekend and faced the prospect of returning to a bombed-out country. Iran head coach Marjie Jafari said on Sunday that the players “want to return to Iran as soon as we can”.
The official squad list names 26 players, as well as Jaffery and other coaches. Burke said the asylum offer has been extended to everyone on the team.
“These women are hugely popular in Australia, but we realize they’re in a terribly difficult situation with the decisions they’re making,” Burke said. “The opportunity to speak with the Australian authorities will continue if they wish.”
It was not clear when the rest of the players would leave Australia, but there was a ruckus outside the team hotel on Tuesday afternoon as members of the public knelt or slept in front of the white bus.
The identities of the occupants of the bus and its destination could not be immediately confirmed. Similar vehicles transported players to and from their games.
Protesters, some dressed in red, white and green or holding pre-revolutionary Iranian flags, tried to stop the bus from leaving the hotel, but it was only minutes late. Some shouted slogans like ‘protect our daughters’, ‘please act now’.
Iran team is popular in Australia
Burke did not elaborate on what threats the players would face if they returned to Iran. During the tournament, the women have largely refused to comment on the situation at home, although Iran forward Sarah Didar broke down in tears at a news conference on Wednesday as she shared her concerns for her families and all Iranians.
Iran’s team made national news coverage in Australia after the players’ silence during the anthem before last week’s opening loss to South Korea was seen by some as an act of resistance and others as a show of mourning. The team has not clarified. He then sang and saluted during the anthem before his remaining two matches.
“Australians are moved by the plight of these brave women,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters on Tuesday. “They are safe here and they should be at home here.”
Albanese said Australian officials had made “clear” offers of support to the athletes.
“Then they had to consider it and do it in a way that didn’t put them or their families and friends in Iran at risk,” he said.
The asylum came at Trump’s insistence
Australia’s announcement comes after Trump called on Australia to grant asylum to any team members on Monday in Washington. Earlier that day, Trump criticized Australia on social media, saying Australia was “… making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the team to be forced back to Iran, where they will likely be killed.” “If you don’t the US will take them,” Trump added.
Two hours later, in another social media post, Trump praised Albanese, saying, “He’s on it! Five are already taken care of, and the rest are on their way.”
The president’s asylum offer represents something of a shift for Trump, whose administration has sought to limit the number of immigrants who can seek asylum for political purposes in the US.
Albanese said Trump called him for a “very positive conversation” on the issue. The Australian leader described “the action we’ve taken in the last 48 hours” to support women.
He praised Australian news outlets for their restraint in not publicizing developments in the story earlier.
