Five members of Iran’s women’s national football team have been granted humanitarian visas to remain in Australia after fleeing their squad during the Women’s Asian Cup tournament, citing fears of persecution upon return.
The players, who had refused to sing Iran’s national anthem before a match, were labelled “traitors” by state media back home and now appear unveiled in public photographs, symbolising their rejection of compulsory hijab rules enforced by the regime.
The group — Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari (the team captain), Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh, and Mona Hamoudi — left their team hotel on the Gold Coast under Australian Federal Police protection in the early hours of this morning.
Home affairs minister Tony Burke met them in a safe location and signed off on their applications, stating: “Last night I was able to tell five women from the Iranian Women’s Soccer team that they are welcome to stay in Australia, to be safe and have a home here.”
He added that Australians had “taken them into our hearts” and extended the offer to remaining squad members.
The players’ defiance began when the team remained silent during the anthem ahead of their opener against South Korea on March 2, an act widely interpreted as protest amid ongoing repression in Iran.
Iranian state television branded them “wartime traitors” following the incident, heightening concerns over potential imprisonment, torture, or worse if they returned — particularly given the regime’s strict enforcement of hijab laws for women in public and official roles.
Photographs released by Burke’s office show the five athletes bare-headed alongside the minister, a visible break from the mandatory headscarves they were required to wear while representing Iran.
Ghanbari had previously faced suspension after her hijab slipped during a celebration in 2024 and again during the current tournament’s final match against the Philippines.
The Iranian female football players could be seen making SOS hand signals from their bus yesterday in connection with the AFC Women’s Asia Cup in Australia.
They’ve refused to sing the national anthem before games and want to defect. 5 players already have after escaping the… pic.twitter.com/Hh69cZ7ku2
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) March 9, 2026
The decision followed intense speculation, public appeals including “Save Our Girls” campaigns and intervention from US President Donald Trump. He urged Australia not to force the players back, warning they would “most likely be killed” and offering US asylum as an alternative.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the women were now safe and could live, work and study in Australia under the visas, which provide a pathway to permanent residency.
The remaining players departed for Iran amid protests at Sydney airport attempting to block their bus, although reports suggest further defections remain possible.
Iran’s theocratic regime is known for also punishing families of dissidents.
In 2022, a male football player, Amir Reza Nasr-Azadani, faced the death penalty after he was arrested as anti-regime demonstrations sweep across Iran. He was convicted of murdering a policeman and two militia members in a trial that human rights groups called a sham. In January 2023, he was sentenced to 26 years in prison.
Last night I was able to tell five women from the Iranian Women’s Soccer team that they are welcome to stay in Australia, to be safe and have a home here. pic.twitter.com/2JQp9q9Z8W
— Tony Burke (@Tony_Burke) March 9, 2026
