Australia grants asylum to 5 Iranian soccer players amid safety concerns back home

Australia granted asylum to five players from the Iranian women’s football team, who came to participate in the tournament when the US-Israeli attacks on Iran began.

Australian federal police officers on Tuesday transported five women seeking asylum from their hotel on Australia’s Gold Coast to a “safe location” to meet with Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and complete humanitarian visa procedures.

“Last night I was able to tell five women from the Iran Women’s Football Team that they can stay in Australia, they can be safe and they can have a home here,” Burke told channel X.

The move came after the team refused to sing the Iranian anthem before their first Women’s Asian Cup match against South Korea earlier last week, but they later sang and saluted the anthem in the next two matches, including the last match in which they were eliminated by the Philippines.

IRANIAN WOMEN’S FOOTBALL FANS SHOW SUPPORT FOR TRUMP AS THE TEAM TURNED INTO THE NATIONAL ANTHEM STAGE

“I don’t want to imagine how difficult this decision must have been for each woman, but last night was definitely one of joy, relief,” Burke told reporters after signing the documents. “People were so excited about starting a life in Australia.”

Emphasizing that the players wanted to make it clear that they were not political activists, Burke said that they were happy to have the names and pictures of the five women published.

The Iranian team arrived in Australia for the tournament before the war against Iran began on 28 February.

After being eliminated from the tournament at the weekend, the team was in danger of returning to a country still under bombardment. The team’s head coach, Marziyeh Jafari, said on Sunday that the players “want to return to Iran as soon as possible.”

The official squad list included 26 players, as well as Jafari and other coaches.

While only five players were granted asylum, Burke said the offer was extended to everyone on the team.

IRANIAN FLAG WAS REMOVED FROM THE PARALYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY DUE TO SINGLE ATHLETE TRAVEL SAFETY CONCERNS

Iranian players sing their national anthem before the Women’s Asian Cup football match between Iran and the Philippines on Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Robina, Australia. (Dave Hunt/AAPImage via AP)

“These women are extremely popular in Australia, but we recognize that they are in an extremely difficult situation with the decisions they have made,” Burke said. “The opportunity will continue to be there to speak to Australian officials if they wish.”

It remains unclear when the remaining players will leave Australia.

“Australians are moved by the plight of these brave women,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters. he said. “They are safe here and should feel at home here.”

“Then they had to think about it and do it in a way that didn’t pose any danger to themselves or their family and friends in Iran,” he continued.

The asylum offer comes after US President Donald Trump on Monday called on Australia to grant asylum to any team member who requests it.

Trump criticized Australia on social media, saying Australia “made a terrible humanitarian mistake” by allowing the team to be “sent back to Iran where they will most likely be killed.”

Fans react to the bus carrying Iranian women players after the Women’s Asian Cup football match against the Philippines on Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Gold Coast, Australia. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)

Despite his administration’s efforts to limit the number of immigrants who can receive asylum in the United States for political purposes, Trump said, “If you don’t take them, the United States will take them.”

Just hours later, Trump praised Albanese in another post.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION

“At work! Five taken care of and the rest are on the way,” Trump wrote.

Albanese said Trump called him for a “very positive conversation” on the issue. The Prime Minister said he was announcing “the action we have taken in the last 48 hours” to support women.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.