More Iranian Women’s Soccer Players Seek Asylum in Australia as Team Departs Amid Fears Gold Coast

By Suraj Karowa /ANW Australia —

Seven members of the Iranian women’s national soccer team have stayed behind in Australia seeking asylum, even as the rest of the squad departed for home on Tuesday amid emotional scenes and heightened security.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed earlier that five players received humanitarian visas, citing safety concerns if they returned to Iran.

A source close to the team told CNN Sports that two more individuals—a player and a staff member—have now applied for asylum, bringing the total to seven holdouts.

The departures unfolded dramatically at the Royal Pines Resort on Queensland’s Gold Coast. Witnesses described police clearing roads for the team bus headed to the airport.

Crowds gathered outside the hotel, attempting to block the vehicle, with one observer noting a player in tears as security guards ushered the group aboard.

It remains unclear which travel route the returning members will take or their expected arrival time in Iran.

The team had traveled to Australia for the Women’s Asian Cup 2026, where they suffered early exits, losing all three group-stage matches.

Tensions escalated before their March 2 opener against South Korea, when players stood silently during the national anthem—a gesture some Iranian hardliners branded as treasonous, though the team offered no explanation.

Sources say the players faced family threats and were coerced into singing the anthem in subsequent games.

Fears of persecution upon return have mounted, especially after supporters spotted at least three players flashing an international distress signal from the bus after their final loss to the Philippines on Sunday.

Crowds shouted at police to “save our girls.”Iranian state media downplayed the incident.

The Attorney General’s office urged the team homeward, calling their actions “unintentional” and influenced by “enemy schemes.” “Return with calm and confidence,” the statement read, framing it as a stand against foreign conspiracies alongside “the great and admirable people of Iran.”

Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali echoed this, accusing “enemies” of dangling “tempting offers” to distract the players. “They are now returning to the homeland and the warm embrace of their families,” he said Tuesday, offering no specifics.

Human rights advocates expressed alarm. Local Iranian community member Hadi Karimi witnessed the distress signals, though a team source questioned if players recognized their meaning.

Sports journalist Raha Pourbakhsh reported threats to families of three asylum seekers.

Former Australian soccer star Craig Foster criticized the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for welfare lapses, noting denied access to advocacy groups post-elimination.

CNN has contacted the AFC for response.The episode highlights broader struggles for Iranian women athletes under strict Islamic Republic rules, where public displays of dissent can invite severe repercussions. The silent anthem protest evoked past defiance, like the women’s national team’s demonstrations against mandatory hijab laws.

Australian authorities acted swiftly. On Monday, seven team members left their hotel; five promptly sought protection via federal police.

Albanese’s visa grants underscore Australia’s humanitarian stance, especially with the tournament hosted on its soil.

Global eyes remain fixed. Iranian diaspora communities rallied outside the hotel, amplifying calls for safety.

As the bus rolled out under escort, the divide was stark: seven embracing a new life Down Under, the majority heading into uncertainty.

This isn’t isolated. Up next for headlines: five players’ visa details; Iraq’s World Cup hopes dimmed by regional Iran tensions; and a seventh U.S. service member identified in the escalating Iran conflict.