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Australia granted asylum to five players from the Iranian women’s soccer team who were visiting for a tournament when the US and Israeli attacks on Iran began.
On Tuesday, Australian federal police officers transported the five women from their hotel in Australia’s Gold Coast to a “safe location” after they applied for asylum to meet with Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and finalize the processing of their humanitarian visas.
“Last night I was able to tell five women from the Iranian women’s football team that they can stay in Australia, be safe and have a home here,” Burke said on X.
The move comes after the team refused to sing the Iranian anthem before their first Women’s Asian Cup match early last week against South Korea, although they later sang and saluted the anthem in two subsequent matches, including before their final match, when they were eliminated by the Philippines.
IRANIAN WOMEN’S SOCCER FANS SHOW SUPPORT FOR TRUMP AS TEAM APPEARS TO SPIN INTO NATIONAL ANTHEM POSITION
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke poses with five Iranian footballers who have been granted asylum in Australia, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (Australian Home Office)
“I don’t want to begin to imagine how difficult that decision is for each of the women, but certainly last night it was joy, it was relief,” Burke told reporters after signing the documents. “People were very excited about starting a life in Australia.”
The five women said they were glad to have their names and photos published, according to Burke, who emphasized that the players wanted to make clear that they were not political activists.
The Iranian team arrived in Australia for the tournament before the war against Iran began on February 28.
After the team was eliminated from the tournament over the weekend, they faced the prospect of returning to a country still under bombing. The team’s coach, Marziyeh Jafari, said Sunday that the players “want to return to Iran as soon as we can.”
An official squad list named 26 players, in addition to Jafari and other coaches.
While only five players were granted asylum, Burke said the offer was made to all members of the team.
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Iran’s players 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/AAPImage via AP)
“These women are tremendously popular in Australia, but we realize they are in a terribly difficult situation with the decisions they are making,” Burke said. “They will continue to have the opportunity to speak to Australian officials if they wish.”
It is not yet clear when the remaining players will leave Australia.
“Australians have been moved by the plight of these brave women,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters. “They are safe here and should feel at home.”
“So they had to consider that and do it in a way that would not present any danger to themselves or their families and friends in Iran,” he continued.
The asylum offer came after US President Donald Trump on Monday called on Australia to grant asylum to any team member who wanted it.
Trump had criticized Australia on social media, saying Australia was “making a terrible humanitarian mistake” by allowing the team to be “forced to return to Iran, where they will most likely be killed.”
Supporters react to a bus carrying Iranian players after their Women’s Asian Cup soccer match against the Philippines in Gold Coast, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Image by Dave Hunt/AAP via AP)
“America will take them if you don’t,” Trump said, despite his administration’s efforts to limit the number of immigrants in the United States who can receive asylum on political grounds.
Just hours later, Trump praised Albanese in another post.
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“It’s on! Five have already been treated and the rest are on the way,” Trump wrote.
Albanese said Trump had called him for “a very positive conversation” about the issue. The Prime Minister said he explained “the actions we had taken over the previous 48 hours” to support women.
