Iranian Women Footballers Seek Asylum in Australia After Refusing to Sing National Anthem at Asian Cup

Five members of Iran’s women’s national football team have asked the Australian government for asylum after refusing to sing the Iranian national anthem during the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup in Queensland.

The players declined to sing the anthem before Iran’s opening match against South Korea women’s national football team last week. Their team was later eliminated from the tournament.

According to the BBC, the players moved to a safe house in Australia following the team’s exit from the competition. A relative of one of the players told ABC News Australia, speaking anonymously, that Australian police are providing protection while the group prepares to formally request asylum.

Donald Trump urged Australia to accept the players in posts on the social media platform Truth Social on Monday. He said sending them back to Iran would be “a terrible humanitarian mistake,” adding that the United States would accept them if Australia declined.

In a later post, Trump said he had spoken with Anthony Albanese, who told him that five of the players had already been assisted and that others were “on their way.”

Australia’s Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, later confirmed that the five players would receive humanitarian visas. Speaking at a news conference in Brisbane, Burke said he had told them they were safe and welcome to remain in Australia.

Burke added that the rest of Iran’s squad is staying at a hotel on the Gold Coast. He said those players have also been offered the option to remain in Australia if they choose.