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Israel’s Foreign Ministry has praised members of Iran’s women’s national soccer team after they appeared to take a political stance by remaining silent during their country’s national anthem at the Women’s Asian Cup. The show of support comes as five players have been granted asylum in Australia, while uncertainty surrounds the remaining 21 members of the team.
In a message posted on X, Israel praised the women for their “bravery” and added that “the world is watching.”
Team Iran listens to the national anthems before the AFC Women’s Asian Cup match against South Korea in Gold Coast on March 2, 2026. (Izhar Khan/AFP)
“Sometimes courage is silence,” said the post on X. “To the women of the Iranian national ethnic group. [soccer] team, who refused to sing the regime’s anthem, we applaud their bravery! Stay safe. “The world is watching.”
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The post included a photo with a similar message that read: “To the brave Iranian women of the national team, the world sees your bravery.”
The situation involving the Iranian women’s soccer team began after the team arrived in Australia for the tournament last month. The team was already there when the United States launched a joint military operation with Israel against Iran.
In the team’s opening match against South Korea, the team remained silent during the national anthem as Iranian coach Marziyeh Jafari, also silent, smiled at her team. The silence was interpreted by some as an act of resistance. But in the following match against Australia and the subsequent match that led to their elimination, the team sang and saluted during the national anthem.
Iranian players react during the national anthem before the Women’s Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Image by Dave Hunt/AAP via AP)
Concern for the team after the tournament led the Australian Iranian Council to launch an online petition urging Australian authorities to “ensure that no member of the Iran women’s national football team leaves Australia while credible fears remain for their safety.”
21 IRANIAN FOOTBALL PLAYERS ASK TO RETURN HOME AFTER 5 GRANTED ASYLUM
President Donald Trump also weighed in, saying the United States would “take them in” if Australia did not grant them asylum.
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced Tuesday that five women were transported from their Gold Coast hotel “to a safe location” by federal police officers, where they later met him and began processing their humanitarian visas.
“I tell the other members of the team that they have the same opportunity,” he said. “Australia has welcomed the Iranian women’s football team into our hearts.”
Islamic Republic of Iran’s players line up for the national anthems before the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 match between Islamic Republic of Iran and Australian Matildas at Gold Coast Stadium in Gold Coast, Australia on March 5, 2026. (Albert Pérez/Getty Images)
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The women who were granted asylum were happy to have their names and photos published, Burke said, but he added that the players wanted to make it clear that they were “not political activists.”
Protesters tried to stop the team bus from leaving Tuesday in front of the hotel where they were staying. The remaining team members and coaches flew to Sydney airport, where police cleared protesters from the international terminal before the team boarded an international flight to Kuala Lumpur, the Australian Broadcasting Corp reported.
