Australia grants asylum to 5 members of the Iranian women’s soccer team : NPR

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 the Iranian women’s soccer team who were visiting the country for a tournament when Iran’s war began, a government minister said Tuesday.

The announcement follows days of pressure from Iranian groups in Australia and US President Donald Trump on the Australian government to help the women, who had not publicly expressed their wish to seek asylum. The team sparked widespread speculation and media coverage in Australia when players failed to sing the Iranian anthem before their first match.

On Tuesday morning, Australian Federal Police officers transported five of the women from their hotel in Gold Coast, Australia, “to a safe location” after they made an asylum application. There they met Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and the processing of their humanitarian visas was finalized, the minister told reporters in Brisbane hours later.

“I don’t want to begin to imagine how difficult this decision is for each of the women, but last night it was joy, it was relief,” said Burke, who posted photos on social media of the women smiling and clapping as he signed documents. “People were very excited to start life in Australia.”

The women granted asylum were happy to have their names and photos published, he said. Burke added that the players wanted to make it clear that they were “not political activists.”

The future remains unknown for the 21 team members and others

The Iranian team arrived in Australia for the Women’s Asian Cup last month, before the start of the war in Iran on February 28. The team was eliminated from the tournament over the weekend and faced the prospect of returning to a bombed-out country. Iranian head coach Marziyeh Jafari said on Sunday that the players “want to return to Iran as soon as possible.”

An official team roster includes 26 players, plus Jafari and other coaches. Burke said the offer of asylum was extended to all members of the team.

“These women are extremely popular in Australia, but we realize they are in a terribly difficult situation with the decisions they are making,” Burke said. “They will still have the opportunity to speak to Australian officials if they wish.”

It was unclear when the remaining players were expected to leave Australia, but a commotion broke out Tuesday afternoon outside the team hotel as members of the public knelt or lay in front of a white bus with tinted windows meant to transport the rest of the team.

The identity of those on board the bus and its destination could not immediately be confirmed. Similar vehicles have transported players to and from their games.

Protesters, some wearing red, white and green clothing or waving pre-Revolution Iranian flags, tried to block the bus from leaving the hotel, but it was only delayed for a few minutes. Some chanted “Save our girls” and “Please act now.”

The popular Iranian team in Australia

Burke did not detail the threats the players would face if they returned to Iran. During the tournament, the women mostly refused to comment on the situation in their country, although Iranian forward Sara Didar fought back tears during a news conference Wednesday as she shared their concerns for their families and all Iranians.

The Iranian team was the subject of national media coverage in Australia after the players’ silence during the anthem before last week’s defeat to South Korea was seen by some as an act of resistance and others as a show of mourning. The team did not specify. They then sang and saluted during the anthem before their two remaining matches.

“Australians have been moved by the plight of these courageous women,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters on Tuesday. “They are safe here and they should feel at home here.”

Albanese said Australian officials had made “clear” offers of support to the athletes.

“They then had to think about this and do it in a way that posed no danger to themselves or to their families and friends back home in Iran,” he added.

Asylum arrived at Trump’s request

Australia’s announcement comes after Trump called on Australia on Monday in Washington to grant asylum to any team member who wanted it. Earlier in the day, Trump blasted Australia on social media, saying Australia was “making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the team to be forcibly returned to Iran, where they will most likely be killed.” Trump added: “The United States will take them if you don’t.” »

Less than two hours later, in another social media post, Trump congratulated Albanese, saying, “He’s on it! Five have already been taken care of and the rest are on the way.”

The president’s asylum offer represents something of a departure for Trump, whose administration has sought to limit the number of immigrants in the United States who can obtain asylum for political purposes.

Albanese said Trump called him for “a very positive conversation” on the issue. The Australian leader explained “the action we had taken over the previous 48 hours” to support women.

He praised the Australian media for their restraint in not making developments in the story public sooner.