The mayhem of the status of the Iranian women's national team isn't quite over. While their Asian Cup duties are over; there still lies the question of where they are and where they will end up.
They are in fear in returning home due to the current attacks that their country is going through. Fortunately, for those who are seeking asylum in Australia, have been granted.
Also Read: An Out-Of-Hand Unity
One member of the Iranian women's football team has decided to leave Australia, taking the number seeking asylum to six, amid fears they could be in danger after they didn't sing Iran's national anthem before a game.
They were in Australia for the Asian Cup when the Iran war began just over a week ago.
Two more women - a footballer and a member of staff - had decided to join five players who were granted humanitarian visas a day earlier and remain in Australia.
Australia's home affairs minister, Tony Burke, told reporters that, after making security assessments, not everyone who applied for a visa was granted one.
"There is a reason why some people weren't made a direct offer [to stay]. There were some people leaving Australia who I am glad are no longer in Australia," he said, without giving further details.
The rest of the team departed from Sydney late on Tuesday to return to Iran. The six team members remaining in Australia have received humanitarian visas for 12 months and can then begin the process to permanent residency.
Speaking after five people originally applied for visas, Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, said: "Australians have been moved by the plight of these brave women. They are safe here and they should feel at home here."
The Australian government had been under pressure to protect the women after they were knocked out of the tournament.
The players were reportedly criticised on Iranian TV, with a commentator saying they had committed the "pinnacle of dishonour" for staying silent during the national anthem before their match on 2 March - two days after the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran.
"Traitors during wartime must be dealt with more severely," presenter, Mohammad Reza Shahbazi, said, according to the Reuters news agency.
Some believed the team's silence was an act of resistance; while others saw it as a show of mourning following the initial US-Israel attacks on their country. The team hasn't made any specific comment on their stance.
They sang and saluted ahead of defeats to Australia on Thursday and the Philippines on Sunday but there were concerns they had been ordered to do so.
The team failed to get past the group stage and players' union, FIFPRO, said it was "really concerned" about their welfare and had been unable to contact them.
Dozens of people chanted "let them go" and "save our girls" as the team's bus left the stadium on the Gold Coast after Sunday's match. Supporters said they could see at least three players making the international hand signal for help.
Before the rest of the squad left the country, some Iranian-Australians held a protest at the team's hotel and at the airport, seeking to prevent the women from leaving the country, citing fears for their safety in Iran.
US president, Donald Trump, posted on Truth Social about how some players felt they had to return, "because they are worried about the safety of their families, including threats to those family members if they don't return."
Exiled crown, prince Reza Pahlavi, who lives in the US, said he had been told that Fatemeh Pasandideh; Zahra Ghanbari; Zahra Sarbali; Atefeh Ramazanzadeh and Mona Hamoudi were now in a "safe location."
He earlier said the team faced an "ongoing threat" after their "brave act" not to sing the national anthem. "As a result of their brave act of civil disobedience in refusing to sing the current regime's national anthem; they face dire consequences should they return to Iran," he posted on social media. The Australian-Iranian Council had also urged the government to protect the players.
It launched an online petition asking authorities to "ensure that no member of Iran's women's national football team is to depart Australia while credible fears for their safety remain."
One member of the Iranian women’s football team who sought sanctuary in Australia has changed her mind after speaking with team-mates, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke informed the Australian parliament.
The player, whose identity was being protected, changed her decision on the advice of her team-mates, Burke revealed on Wednesday.
Burke told the parliament that he had since been advised one member of the group “had spoken to some of the teammates that left and changed their mind”.
"She had been advised by her team-mates and encouraged to contact the Iranian embassy," he said. "As a result of that it meant the Iranian embassy now knew the location of where everybody was."
The remaining players have been moved from a safe house to another location, he said. Australian officials had "made sure this was her decision," he said, referring to the Iran team member who had changed her mind.
Earlier, Burke confirmed that an additional player and a member of the team’s support staff had received humanitarian visas, after five players were earlier granted asylum over concerns for their safety should they return to Iran, following the team’s failure to sing their national anthem before a recent match.
The pair joined five other team members granted humanitarian visas a day prior, Burke told reporters earlier on Wednesday.
The remaining squad and staff members flew out of Sydney to Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday evening in emotional scenes and arrived in Malaysia early Wednesday morning.
Burke said the pair sought asylum before the team departed the country late on Tuesday night, adding that all the women were taken aside individually by Australian officials and interpreters; without Iranian minders present and offered asylum as they passed through security at Sydney airport.
"They were given a choice," said Burke, who later posted images of the players on social media. “In that situation, what we made sure of was that there was no rushing, there was no pressure,” he said.
Burke also said some people linked to the team weren't offered asylum, without providing details. One member of the delegation delayed boarding the departing flight from Sydney while they contacted family members and deliberated about staying in Australia, Burke said.
"We weren’t sure which way that person would go," he said. "That individual ultimately made their own decision."
The seven team members who had requested asylum have received temporary humanitarian visas, which is a pathway to permanent residency in Australia, Burke said.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the visas offered to the team members are valid for 12 months and are similar to those granted to applicants from Ukraine, Palestine and Afghanistan.
The team’s departure from their hotel in Australia’s Gold Coast and arrival at the domestic airport in Sydney before their international departure took place amid protests, as Iranian Australians sought to prevent the women from leaving the country, citing fears for their safety in Iran.
Concerns about the players’ safety emerged after Iranian state television labelled the team "traitors" for refusing to sing the national anthem before their first Asia Cup match in Australia. The team later sang the anthem at other matches.
However, the office of Iran’s general prosecutor said on Tuesday that the remaining members of the team were invited home, "with peace and confidence," Iranian media reported.
"These loved ones are invited to return to their homeland with peace and confidence and in addition to addressing the concerns of their families," the general prosecutor’s office was quoted as saying by Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, also urged the players to "come home." "To Iran’s women’s football team: don’t worry – Iran awaits you with open arms," Baghaei wrote on X on Tuesday.
The Iranian team joined the Women’s Asian Cup tournament in Australia, just as the US and Israel launched their war on Iran; killing the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and many senior officials.
At least 1 255 people have been killed in the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has entered its 12th day and has seen devastating air strikes on the capital, Tehran and other cities, as well as key infrastructure and civilian sites.
The high-profile offer of asylum to the football players also comes as the Australian government has moved to introduce legislation to ban people from certain countries traveling to Australia who authorities fear might overstay their visa due to the war in the Middle East.
According to the ABC, the proposed law would allow the government to stop people from nominated countries entering Australia for up to six months, even if they already have a valid temporary visa.
The Australian Greens party said on Tuesday that the law was, "clearly aimed at preventing people from Iran from seeking safety in Australia."
"We know who this is aimed at by Labor – it’s aimed at the people of Iran, the people of Lebanon, the people of Qatar and the entire Middle East. It is clearly designed to be a Trump-like mass visa freeze," said Greens Senator, David Shoebridge, referring to the governing Australian Labor Party and US President Donald Trump, who has also banned people from certain countries from entering the US.
Kon Karapanagiotidis, chief executive of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, said the government was acting hypocritically.
"Australia and the US are sending our military to the Middle East to liberate the people of Iran and at the same time, they are legislating so they can shut the door to those same people who need our protection – and who already have a visa to travel to Australia," he said, according to the ABC.
While the Iranian women's team has a certain future, the participation of the men's team in the upcoming World Cup is in question due to the current situation.
The head of the Iranian Football Federation on Tuesday cast further doubt on his country’s participation in this summer’s World Cup, alleging that women playing in the Asian Cup in Australia had been coerced into defecting.
""If the World Cup is like this, who in their right mind would send their national team to a place like this?" Mehdi Taj asked on Iranian state television.
The men’s World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, but Iran is scheduled to play all three group games in the United States, two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
Its participation has been in doubt since the United States and Israel started their attacks last month on Iran, which launched reprisals.
"Iran cannot participate in the FIFA World Cup after the United States killed its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei," said the country’s sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali.
"Considering that this corrupt regime [the US] has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup," the minister told state television on Wednesday.
The US and Israeli war on Iran, which began on February 28, has killed 1,255 people and wounded more than 12 000.
Tehran has responded by launching waves of missiles and drones at Israel, several military bases in the Middle East where US forces operate and at infrastructure in the region.
"Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist," Donyamali said.
"Given the malicious actions they have carried out against Iran, they have forced two wars on us over eight or nine months and have killed and martyred thousands of our people. Therefore, we certainly cannot have such a presence."
It is the first time an official from the Iranian government has spoken on the country’s participation in the global tournament since the US and Israel launched their attacks on the nation on 28 February.
The head of the Iranian Football Federation cast doubt on his team’s participation last week but did not say the team would boycott the tournament.
“After this attack [on Iran], we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,” Mehdi Taj, president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), said on 1 March.
"If the World Cup is like this, who in their right mind would send their national team to a place like this?" Taj asked on Iranian state television.
Earlier, FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, said Iran’s participation in the World Cup would be welcomed by US President Donald Trump, with whom he met and discussed the upcoming tournament amid the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Infantino said on Wednesday that Trump, “reiterated that the Iranian team is welcome to compete in the tournament," which is being cohosted by the US, Mexico and Canada in June and July.
During a meeting to discuss preparations for the competition, "we also spoke about the current situation in Iran," Infantino wrote on Instagram.
"During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States," he wrote.
Iran will pull out of the men’s FIFA World Cup this summer, the country’s sport minister has announced, after several of the women’s national football team were granted asylum in Australia this week.
"We don’t have the conditions to attend the World Cup," Ahmad Donyamali, Iran’s sport and youth minister, told state TV on Wednesday, adding that, "under no circumstances" would the country take part.
He cited the killing of Iran’s supreme leader and Iranian deaths in US attacks on Iran as showing there would be “no safety” for the country’s players at the competition.
The minister’s comments followed a tumultuous few days for Iranian football. After the women’s national team refused to sing the national anthem during their first game at the Asian Cup in Australia last week, some officials in Tehran branded them traitors, leading to worries about their safety on their return home.
US President Donald Trump urged Australia to grant asylum to the players and Australian government officials met them ahead of their departure. Six players have been granted asylum by the Australian
In an Instagram post before Donyamali’s interview, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he had met Trump on Tuesday, "to discuss the status of preparations" for the World Cup, with less than 100 days to go until the tournament kicks off.
"During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States," Infantino wrote.
On the subject of Iran’s participation in the World Cup, last week Trump told Politico: "I really don’t care."
Infantino has established a close relationship with Trump ahead of the World Cup. In December, FIFA awarded Trump its inaugural "Peace Prize." In a FIFA video to mark the event, a voice said: "This has been a presidency marked by actions to pursue peace around the world."
FIFA will fine Iran's national team at least $320,000 for withdrawing from the 2026 World Cup.
According to the tournament regulations, all participating member associations are required to play all their matches. A penalty of at least 250 000 Swiss francs ($320 000) will be imposed on any team that withdraws within 30 days of the final tournament's first game.
Earlier, Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali announced that the national football team had withdrawn from the 2026 World Cup.
At the 2026 World Cup, Iran is in a group with New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt. All three matches are scheduled to be held in the United States.
It would be the first time a nation has withdrawn from a World Cup in 76 years; India and France could not pay the travel fees to Brazil in 1950.
FIFA could replace Iran or simply have three teams in Group G instead of four. Any replacement nation would likely be from the Asian Football Confederation, with Iraq and the United Arab Emirates in the strongest position.
In this absolutely messed up, Black Mirror-like, world run by Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, we simply cannot rule out any country – or club – from replacing Iran.
Here are 10 options to replace Iran at this summer’s World Cup, hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Iraq
“If Iran are replaced, their place would probably be taken by another country from the Asian Football Confederation. Iraq and the United Arab Emirates would have the strongest claims.
Iraq beat UAE in a play-off and are now due to play Bolivia or Suriname in an intercontinental play-off at the end of this month. Iraq are currently facing serious problems travelling to Mexico for that winner-takes-all fixture.”“Iraq beat UAE in a play-off and are now due to play Bolivia or Suriname in an intercontinental play-off at the end of this month. Iraq are currently facing serious problems travelling to Mexico for that winner-takes-all fixture.”
So, if Iraq lose their play-off final against Bolivia/Suriname, they should be given Iran’s spot. It really is that simple. Unless Iran have a change of heart, or FIFA decide to proceed with a three-team group. If you can’t qualify, there are no freebies.
United Arab Emirates
The most obvious answer if Iraq qualify the conventional way. They would then be the last AFC team standing.
Play-off final loser
CONCACAF’s Suriname face CONMEBOL’s Bolivia for a tie against Iraq on 31 31 March. CAF’s DR Congo are waiting on OFC’s New Caledonia or CONCACAF’s Jamaica. And the European play-offs are less straightforward.
Any losing finalist will do. Or just the UAE if Iraq win and Iraq if they lose. That is the obvious one, isn’t it?
Israel
‘Do you mind if my mate comes along? Promise he’s not weird.' The mate? Benjamin f***ing Netanyahu. We wouldn’t put it past Donald, but Canada and Mexico won’t want to let Israel in just to appease war friends.
Hungary
A quick Google search tells us that Trump is a big supporter of Hungary’s political ideology. It also tells us that he loves Scotland. Why can’t we have nice things?
United States Women’s National Team
The greatest women’s team on the planet would be a fine choice. They have more supporters than the men’s side after all.
United States II
As much USA as possible would absolutely delight those patriotic dudes across the pond. A second team would likely get embarrassed, so we’re all for it. Trump would probably put himself up front.
MLS All-Stars
Presuming Heung-min Son, Lionel Messi and others prioritise their actual countries, we could see Rob Holding, Sam Surridge and Aston Villa legend Carles Gil play at a World Cup. Finally.
Chelsea
They won the Club World Cup. If that doesn’t make them the frontrunners, we have no clue what will. Cole Palmer and Trump are good pals.
Highest ranked nation not to qualify
In terms of population, China and India are the two glaring omissions from the World Cup. It’s one hell of a mystery how neither nation has produced an elite footballer, but that’s a tale for another day. Focusing on famous footballing nations, we could be without Italy for the third World Cup in a row, while Serbia, Hungary and Greece have definitely missed out.
This seems like quite a logical one, especially if it’s the highest-ranked Asian country, which is currently the United Arab Emirates. With no continent restriction, it’s Nigeria, unless Italy, Denmark or Turkey lose in this month’s play-offs.
Iran was the first country to secure qualification for the World Cup, which runs from 11 June 11 to 19 July.
Iranian football is in quite a limbo for both genders. It's very understandable why the women want asylum. No one wants to go back into that kind of environment. It's good that Australia granted asylum to those who wanted it.
It was a brave decision to go back to their country. They got to do what they have to do - especially if it means going back to your family. I applaud their decision to do so. Family comes first after all.
As for the men, I don't blame the decision. Going to a country that attacking your beloved country is a sign that you're okay with what's going on. Politicians can't be trusted. Most of them crooked. They might say everything is fine but, in reality, it's not.
I'd probably stand with the decision and not argue with it or go rogue.