Three more members of the Iranian women’s football team have changed their minds and left their asylum in Australia to join the rest of the team on their journey back to Iran, Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement on Sunday (Mar 15). More than half a dozen players of Iran’s visiting delegation at the Women’s Asian Cup sought refuge in Australia after their government labelled them as ‘traitors’ for refusing to sing the national anthem.&nbsp;Only three players are left now after another member of the group left to rejoin the Iranian women’s team earlier in the week. &nbsp;Detailing the latest developments, the Home Affairs minister said the relevant authorities had given them repeated opportunities to reconsider their final call, adding that the players faced an incredibly difficult time making their decisions.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/amid-chaos-five-iranian-women-s-football-players-given-asylum-in-australia-1773102820461">Amid chaos, five Iranian women's football players given asylum in Australia</a> &nbsp;"Overnight, three members of the Iranian Women's Football Team made the decision to join the rest of the team on their journey back to Iran," Tony Burke said. "After telling Australian officials they had made this decision, the players were given repeated chances to talk about their options," he said.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the football drama has unfolded against a backdrop of war in the Middle East, unleashed by US-Israeli air strikes on Iran. Rights groups have repeatedly accused Iranian authorities of pressuring athletes abroad by threatening relatives or with the seizure of property if they defect or make statements against the Islamic Republic.&nbsp;"The Australian Government has done everything we could to make sure these women were provided with the chance for a safe future in Australia," Burke said. "Australians should be proud that it was in our country that these women experienced a nation presenting them with genuine choices and interacted with authorities seeking to help them."&nbsp;Iranian state broadcaster IRIB said on Saturday that three team members -- two players and one member of the technical staff -- had withdrawn their asylum applications and were currently en route to Malaysia.&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

Three more Iranian women’s football team members have withdrawn their asylum bids in Australia to return to Iran. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the players chose to rejoin their team despite being labeled "traitors" and facing potential threats at home.

Three more members of the Iranian women’s football team have changed their minds and left their asylum in Australia to join the rest of the team on their journey back to Iran, Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement on Sunday (Mar 15). More than half a dozen players of Iran’s visiting delegation at the Women’s Asian Cup sought refuge in Australia after their government labelled them as ‘traitors’ for refusing to sing the national anthem. Only three players are left now after another member of the group left to rejoin the Iranian women’s team earlier in the week. Detailing the latest developments, the Home Affairs minister said the relevant authorities had given them repeated opportunities to reconsider their final call, adding that the players faced an incredibly difficult time making their decisions. Also read | Amid chaos, five Iranian women's football players given asylum in Australia "Overnight, three members of the Iranian Women's Football Team made the decision to join the rest of the team on their journey back to Iran," Tony Burke said. "After telling Australian officials they had made this decision, the players were given repeated chances to talk about their options," he said. Meanwhile, the football drama has unfolded against a backdrop of war in the Middle East, unleashed by US-Israeli air strikes on Iran. Rights groups have repeatedly accused Iranian authorities of pressuring athletes abroad by threatening relatives or with the seizure of property if they defect or make statements against the Islamic Republic. "The Australian Government has done everything we could to make sure these women were provided with the chance for a safe future in Australia," Burke said. "Australians should be proud that it was in our country that these women experienced a nation presenting them with genuine choices and interacted with authorities seeking to help them." Iranian state broadcaster IRIB said on Saturday that three team members -- two players and one member of the technical staff -- had withdrawn their asylum applications and were currently en route to Malaysia. (With inputs from AFP)

Three more Iranian women’s football team members have withdrawn their asylum bids in Australia to return to Iran. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the players chose to rejoin their team despite being labeled "traitors" and facing potential threats at home.

More Iranian women’s footballers leave asylum in Australia amid threat back home

American President Donald Trump has warned Australia against sending the Iranian football players back home amid growing fears over their safety during the ongoing Women’s Asian Cup in Gold Coast, Queensland. As many as five members of Iran’s women’s team have fled the team hotel in Australia, currently placed in a safe house under the protection of the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Stranded in Australia after their failed campaign, the Iranian women footballers are at the centre of growing calls for their exit from the country to be blocked for the fear of execution or prison in Iran, with their country at war against the US and Israel.&nbsp;Meanwhile, before their tournament opener against South Korea, the Iranian players stood silent during the country’s national anthem, and even though they never explained the reasons behind it, the Iranian government has officially labelled them ‘wartime traitors’.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-timeline-to-end-iran-war-trump-signals-decision-will-be-only-after-mutual-decision-with-netanyahu-1773048531481">No timeline to end Iran war? Trump signals decision will be only after ‘mutual’ decision with Netanyahu</a> &nbsp;A CNN report claims that the players were forced to sing their national anthem ahead of their second group game on Thursday, before repeating it ahead of their final match against the Philippines on Sunday, which they lost by 0-2. The Iranian players not only sang the anthem but also gave a military salute. &nbsp;Following their final league game, the supporters surrounded the team bus, while shouting at the police, 'Save our Girls', before being pulled away. &nbsp;Moreover, the Iranian football players' plight has reached the son of Iran’s ousted shah, Reza Pahlavi, who, on his social media handle X, urged the Australian government to ensure the safety of the five soccer players, including their captain Zahra Ghanbari, warning the Australian authorities that these women will face dire consequences if and when they return to Iran. &nbsp;“As a result of their brave act of civil disobedience in refusing to sing the current regime’s national anthem, they face dire consequences should they return to Iran,” Pahlavi posted on X. “I call on the Australian government to ensure their safety and give them any and all needed support.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">اعضای تیم ملی فوتبال زنان ایران پس از اقدام شجاعانه‌شان در خودداری از خواندن سرود رژیم، با فشارهای شدید و تهدیدهای مداوم از سوی جمهوری اسلامی روبه‌رو هستند و در صورت بازگشت به ایران ممکن است با پیامدهای بسیار جدی مواجه شوند. من از دولت استرالیا می‌خواهم امنیت آنان را تضمین کند و… <a href="https://t.co/YZzVOX6CIO">https://t.co/YZzVOX6CIO</a>&mdash; Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) <a href="https://twitter.com/PahlaviReza/status/2030722540155404772?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h3>Trump urges Australian government to grant Iranian players asylum</h3>In the latest update on this matter, American President Donald Trump has joined calls to urge the Australian Prime Minister and the related authorities against sending the Iranian team back to their country, where they will face dire consequences upon reaching. Taking to his Truth Social account, Trump wrote,&nbsp; &nbsp;"Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed. Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM. The U.S. will take them if you won’t..." Trump wrote.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed. Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM. The U.S. will take them if you won’t. Thank you for your attention…&mdash; Commentary: Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpTruthOnX/status/2031013005413245176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Donald Trump warns Australia against deporting 5 Iranian footballers currently in police protection. From anthem protests to "wartime traitor" labels, see why Zahra Ghanbari and her teammates are seeking urgent asylum amid the Iran-US war.

American President Donald Trump has warned Australia against sending the Iranian football players back home amid growing fears over their safety during the ongoing Women’s Asian Cup in Gold Coast, Queensland. As many as five members of Iran’s women’s team have fled the team hotel in Australia, currently placed in a safe house under the protection of the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Stranded in Australia after their failed campaign, the Iranian women footballers are at the centre of growing calls for their exit from the country to be blocked for the fear of execution or prison in Iran, with their country at war against the US and Israel. Meanwhile, before their tournament opener against South Korea, the Iranian players stood silent during the country’s national anthem, and even though they never explained the reasons behind it, the Iranian government has officially labelled them ‘wartime traitors’. Also read | No timeline to end Iran war? Trump signals decision will be only after ‘mutual’ decision with Netanyahu A CNN report claims that the players were forced to sing their national anthem ahead of their second group game on Thursday, before repeating it ahead of their final match against the Philippines on Sunday, which they lost by 0-2. The Iranian players not only sang the anthem but also gave a military salute. Following their final league game, the supporters surrounded the team bus, while shouting at the police, 'Save our Girls', before being pulled away. Moreover, the Iranian football players' plight has reached the son of Iran’s ousted shah, Reza Pahlavi, who, on his social media handle X, urged the Australian government to ensure the safety of the five soccer players, including their captain Zahra Ghanbari, warning the Australian authorities that these women will face dire consequences if and when they return to Iran. “As a result of their brave act of civil disobedience in refusing to sing the current regime’s national anthem, they face dire consequences should they return to Iran,” Pahlavi posted on X. “I call on the Australian government to ensure their safety and give them any and all needed support.”

Donald Trump warns Australia against deporting 5 Iranian footballers currently in police protection. From anthem protests to "wartime traitor" labels, see why Zahra Ghanbari and her teammates are seeking urgent asylum amid the Iran-US war.

Trump warns Australia against sending Iranian women footballers back home amid safety concerns

iran-women-football-team-asylum-australia

Iran Women Football Team Asylum Australia, News on Iran Women Football Team Asylum Australia, stories on Iran Women Football Team Asylum Australia, articles on Iran Women Football Team Asylum Australia, Iran Women Football Team Asylum Australia stories at Wion, Iran Women Football Team Asylum Australia news, Iran Women Football Team Asylum Australia latest news

iran women-football-team-asylum-australia

More Iranian women’s footballers leave asylum in Australia amid threat back home

Trump warns Australia against sending Iranian women footballers back home