Five members of Iran’s women’s national team are seeking asylum in Australia following their participation in the AFC Asian Cup, and they are currently safe and receiving care from local authorities.
The players defected on Monday after a 2-0 loss to the Philippines, sealing the team’s early exit from the competition. This was set against the backdrop of the Iran War, which had a significant impact on their participation. The team was slated to leave Gold Coast, Australia, on Monday, despite the ongoing airspace restrictions stemming from the conflict, which escalated on February 28.
The tension surrounding the Iran War overshadowed the team’s experience at the Asian Cup. Their first match was marked by a joint military operation involving the U.S. and Israel, prompting the players to refrain from singing the national anthem before their opener with South Korea (lost 3-0), resulting in them being labeled as “wartime traitors” by state television. However, they later sang the anthem and performed a military salute in their subsequent matches against Australia and the Philippines, both of which they also lost.
U.S. President Donald Trump reported that he had communicated with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese regarding the situation, stating that five players “have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way” while acknowledging the delicacy of the circumstances. He indicated that the U.S. would accept the players’ asylum applications if Australia was unable to do so.
Currently, it remains unclear how many members of the team, if any, remain in Australia, and the status of the asylum applications of the defecting players is also uncertain. Governance bodies in sports and the Australian government are prioritizing the safety of the remaining players.
FIFA declared in a statement that “the safety and security of IR Iran’s women’s national team are FIFA’s priority,” affirming their commitment to closely working with the AFC and the relevant authorities in Australia to ensure the team’s well-being.
Beau Busch, president of the Asia/Oceania division of the global players’ union FIFPRO, expressed in a media briefing that they had been unable to reach the players, heightening concerns for their safety. He stated, “We are committed to working with the AFC, FIFA, and the Australian government to ensure the players’ safety and agency regarding their future actions. Whether they wish to stay in Australia or return home, their safety is paramount.”
Busch mentioned the potential for players to seek asylum or return home, emphasizing the complex and precarious situation they are in and reaffirmed the union’s efforts to guarantee the players have agency in their decisions.
