Timeline summary: Iranian women's football team refused to sing the national anthem, labeled as traitors. Trump requests Australia to grant asylum fearing they could be executed if returned.
Human rights concerns resurfaced after the Iranian women's football team chose not to sing the national anthem before their first match against South Korea at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 in Australia.
This incident occurred just 48 hours after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, former Supreme Leader of Iran, was assassinated amid escalating tensions between Iran, the U.S., and Israel.
Following the event, Shahbazi, a state television news anchor, posted a video on platform X harshly criticizing those who did not sing the anthem during wartime, calling them "traitors" deserving severe punishment.
Sources told CNN Sports that the players were forced to sing the national anthem before their second match on Thursday. On Sunday, before their 2-0 loss to the Philippines, they again sang the anthem while making military salute gestures.
After their final match on Sunday ended in defeat, fans surrounded the team’s bus, shouting to police, "Please help our children." As the bus moved, reports emerged that players on board signaled an SOS. Rumors spread that five players had escaped their hotel and were safely under police protection.
Donald Trump, former U.S. president, posted on Truth Social urging Australian authorities to allow the Iranian women's national football team to seek asylum in Australia.
“Australia is making a huge humanitarian mistake by forcing the Iranian women's national football team to return, where they face a high risk of being killed. Don’t do that, Prime Minister. Grant them asylum. The U.S. will take them if you don’t,” he wrote.
Recently, Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs confirmed that humanitarian visas have been granted to five Iranian women football players who applied for asylum and that others on the team are welcome to do the same.
“I want to tell other team members that the same opportunity remains open. Australia has embraced the Iranian women's football team in our hearts. The remaining players continue to stay at the team's original accommodation,” he said.
“We are certainly working to ensure there will be further opportunities. Anyone wishing to apply to Australian authorities for asylum will be given the chance.”