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Three iranian women soccer players to return home after seeking asylum in Australia
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 14, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 15, 2026
Quick Summary
Three players from Iran’s women’s national football team, who had sought asylum in Australia after their anthem protest at the Women’s Asian Cup, have decided to return to Iran despite being granted visas. Australia continues to offer protection to other squad members.
Three Iranian women soccer players to return home after seeking asylum in Australia
Return of Iranian Women Soccer Players After Seeking Asylum
SYDNEY, March 15 (Reuters) - Three members of the Iranian women's soccer team who had sought asylum in Australia have decided to return to Iran, Australia's government said on Sunday.
Background of the Asylum Request
Australia granted humanitarian visas to seven Iranian footballers last week after they sought asylum, saying they feared persecution if they returned home after they failed to sing the national anthem at a Women's Asian Cup match.
Decisions Made by the Players
Four of the seven members have decided to leave Australia so far. Another member changed her mind last week.
Official Statements from Australian Government
"After telling Australian officials they had made this decision, the players were given repeated chances to talk about their options," Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement.
"While the Australian Government can ensure that opportunities are provided and communicated, we cannot remove the context in which the players are making these incredibly difficult decisions," he added.
Identification of the Players
The Iranian Football Association (FFIRI) named the players as Mona Hamoudi, Zahra Sarbali and Zahra Meshkehkar.
Return to Iran and Reunification
"After arriving in Malaysia and joining the rest of Iran's women's national football team, the three players will travel to Tehran in the coming days to once again be embraced by their families and homeland," FFIRI added in a statement.
Context of the Asian Cup and Regional Tensions
The Iranian team's campaign in the Asian Cup started just as the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, killing the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They were eliminated from the tournament last Sunday.
Reporting and Editorial Credits
(Reporting by Praveen Menon, Nick Mulvenney and Sam McKeith; Editing by Diane Craft and Jamie Freed)
Key Takeaways
- •Following their televised protest—refusing to sing Iran’s national anthem before their opening match—five players were granted humanitarian visas by Australia amid fears they’d face persecution back home (apnews.com).
- •Of the seven team members who sought asylum, three have now chosen to return to Iran, one reversed her asylum decision, and Australia reiterated that other players still have the option to stay (apnews.com).
- •The situation unfolded against a backdrop of escalating tensions—the Iran–U.S./Israel war—and international attention, including public pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump and global athletes’ unions advocating their protection (apnews.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Three Iranian women soccer players to return home after seeking asylum in Australia
1Why did Iranian women soccer players seek asylum in Australia?
They feared persecution in Iran after failing to sing the national anthem at an Asian Cup match.
2How many Iranian female footballers were granted humanitarian visas by Australia?
Seven Iranian footballers were granted humanitarian visas.
3How many of the Iranian soccer players decided to return to Iran?
Four of the seven players, including the latest three, decided to return to Iran.
4What was the context during Iran's campaign in the Asian Cup?
It coincided with US and Israeli air strikes on Iran and the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
5What did Australian officials do for the Iranian players before their decision?
Officials gave the players repeated chances to discuss their options before returning.
