In a significant humanitarian move, Australia has granted asylum to five members of the Iranian women’s soccer team, who happened to be in the country for a tournament when conflict erupted in Iran. This decision was confirmed by a government minister on Tuesday.
The news comes after persistent appeals from Iranian organizations within Australia and support from U.S. President Donald Trump, urging the Australian government to intervene. Notably, the players had not publicly expressed a desire for asylum, yet their actions drew attention when they chose not to sing the Iranian national anthem before their first match, sparking widespread speculation and media coverage.
In the early hours of Tuesday, police escorted the five women from their hotel in Gold Coast, moving them to a secure location after they submitted their asylum applications. It was there they met Tony Burke, Australia’s Home Affairs Minister, who facilitated the finalization of their humanitarian visas. Burke addressed the media in Brisbane, sharing details of this critical development.
“I can’t begin to fathom the enormity of this decision for each of these women, but last night was a moment of joy and relief,” Burke remarked. He also shared photos on social media showing the women jubilant and applauding as he signed the necessary documents. “There was a palpable excitement about starting a new chapter in Australia,” he added.
The women, who have been granted asylum, expressed their willingness to have their names and images shared publicly. Burke emphasized that the players wished to clarify they are not “political activists,” underscoring the personal nature of their decision.
The women granted asylum were happy for their names and pictures to be published, he said. Burke added that the players wanted to make clear that they were “not political activists.”
Iranian state TV said the country’s football federation asked international soccer bodies to review what it called Trump’s “direct political interference in football,” warning such remarks could disrupt the 2026 World Cup, which begins in North America in June.
Naghmeh Danai said she was invited as a migration agent and member of the Iranian-Australian community to visit the women at a hotel Monday night and to reassure them about what was available to them in Australia.
“I told them that if you accept this offer, you will have a great future here. You will have more respect. You won’t be under a lot of suppression that you have been in your country. And they were thrilled,” Danai said.
“At the same time, it’s understandable that it was a very hard decision for them to make when they have family back home and when they just came here compete,” Danai added.
Future remains unknown for 21 in squad and others
The Iranian team arrived in Australia for the Women’s Asian Cup last month, before the Iran war began on Feb. 28. The team was knocked out of the tournament over the weekend and faced the prospect of returning to a country under bombardment. Iran’s head coach Marziyeh Jafari said Sunday the players “want to come back to Iran as soon as we can.”
An official squad list named 26 players, plus Jafari and other coaches. Burke said the offer of asylum was extended to all on the team.
“These women are tremendously popular in Australia, but we realize they are in a terribly difficult situation with the decisions that they’re making,” Burke said. “The opportunity will continue to be there for them to talk to Australian officials if they wish to.”
It was not clear when the remaining players were due to leave Australia, but a commotion erupted Tuesday afternoon outside the team’s hotel as members of the public kneeled or lay in front of a white bus with tinted windows believed to be carrying the rest of the team.
The identities of those on the bus and its destination couldn’t be immediately confirmed. Similar vehicles have transported players to and from their games.
The protesters, some wearing red, white and green clothing or holding pre-Revolution Iranian flags, tried to prevent the bus from departing the hotel, but it was delayed by only minutes. Some chanted “Save our girls” and “Please act now.”
Iranian team popular in Australia
Burke didn’t detail what threats the players faced if they returned to Iran. During the tournament, the women have mostly declined to comment on the situation at home, although Iran forward Sara Didar choked back tears in a news conference Wednesday as she shared their concerns for their families and all Iranians.
The Iranian team has drawn national news coverage in Australia after the players’ silence during the anthem before an opening loss to South Korea last week was viewed by some as an act of resistance and others as a show of mourning. The team hasn’t clarified. They later sang and saluted during the anthem before their remaining two matches.
“Australians have been moved by the plight of these brave women,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters Tuesday. “They’re safe here and they should feel at home here.”
Albanese said Australian officials had made offers of support “clear” to the athletes.
Asylum came during Trump’s urging
Australia’s announcement came after Trump on Monday in Washington called on Australia to grant asylum to any team member who wanted it. Earlier that day, Trump had lambasted 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 most likely be killed.” Trump added: “The U.S. will take them if you won’t.”
Less than two hours later, in another social media post, Trump praised Albanese, saying, “He’s on it! Five have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way.”
Iran’s football federation said Trump’s comments were “baseless and unlawful” and urged global football authorities to intervene.
Iranian first Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref separately said: “Iran welcomes its children with open arms and the government guarantees their security.”
“No one has the right to interfere in the family affairs of the Iranian nation and play the role of a nanny who is kinder than a mother,” he added.
The president’s offer of asylum represented something of a change for Trump, whose administration has sought to limit the number of immigrants in the US who can receive asylum for political purposes.
