Women's Asian Cup 2026: 'No way' Iran’s footballers can return home, with calls to protect them in Australia

The Iranian women’s football team is facing an impossible situation.

As the players try to prepare for their final Women’s Asian Cup game against the Philippines on the Gold Coast this weekend, they must contend with two possible realities.

One, where they return home, and could face punishment from the Islamic Republic regime for choosing not to sing the national anthem before their first game. Or another, where they stay in Australia, and their families and loved ones could instead suffer retribution.

Amnesty International Australia Strategic Campaigner Zaki Haidari told ABC Sport it was a complex situation.

“They should be granted asylum. There's no way that they can go back to Iran. The Iran Authority will detain them and prosecute them on arrival, and they've done that historically,” he said.

“We know that has happened a lot, particularly in the last two months. Anyone that came out, protested against the Iranian regime, have suffered the consequences.

“[Their loved ones and families] will face some level of punishment no matter what happens with the Iranian team.”

He says the best the families and loved ones could hope for, would be to “get out of the country and hopefully reunite with [the players] at some point”.

‘Life-changing decision’ facing players

As we have reported, the players’ decision not to sing the national anthem before the game against South Korea was seen as a silent protest against the Islamic Republic regime.

They then saluted and sang before their second match against Australia, interpreted as a directive from the regime.

This then appeared to be confirmed when footage emerged from a radical conservative presenter on Iranian state TV, labelling the players “traitors” for not singing the anthem.

They are due to depart Australia after their final group game against the Philippines tomorrow night.

Fears are growing for their safety amongst the Iranian-Australian community, prompting several locals to start a petition addressed to Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke.

It asks the Government to ensure no member of the team leaves Australia while uncertainty over their safety remains, and that any players looking to seek protection can do so independently of the regime, whilst being provided with independent legal advice and support.

It went live on Friday night, and at the time of publishing, it had over 30,000 signatures.

Melbourne-based human rights activist Dr Minoo Ghamari is one of the people who started the petition and said it was designed to attract wider public attention.

“People are trying to get in touch with these girls. But basically, they are being kept hostage in Australia. It's really disgusting,” she told ABC Sport.

“No one can get close to them because of the Islamic Republic guys who are surrounding them. And that's really unfair.”

It is believed that people with links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are part of the team’s official delegation. It is listed as a terrorist organisation in Australia.

We have heard witness reports that those staff members have intimidated guests and visitors to the Gold Coast hotel where the team is staying.

We’ve been told they are monitoring all the players' communications, and accompanying them everywhere they go, even the public bathrooms in the hotel, with a source suggesting the players are “prisoners in their hotel”.

There are also reports the players had to sign contracts before they left ensuring they would not defect or protest against the regime, otherwise they and their families would be punished.

Mr Haidari said previous cases had shown that one individual's actions could put their entire family at risk, if seen as a crime in Iran.

“Particularly if the individual is in a Western country, we've seen their families been door-knocked and been detained, arbitrarily," he said.

“Just because the individual either spoke up against the Iranian authority or have done things that are normal here, for example, right to protest or expressing your opinion.”

Dr Ghamari said some of the players may not even want to stay in Australia.

“But the problem is, and that's what's mentioned in this petition, please talk to them individually and see what they say without the IRGC around,” she said.

“Let's at least give them this choice and without anyone threatening them. Tell them, listen, you can stay here safely. They're really scared.”

Leigh Swansborough is an Australian and long-time fan of Iranian women’s football.

She has attended the team’s games at the tournament and told us she was concerned about the players’ welfare.

“They’ve never had to make a free choice before without being influenced by the regime,” she said.

“Now we’re expecting them to make a life-changing decision within 36 hours, knowing that someone, whether it’s them or their families, will be punished, tortured or killed.”

The ABC has contacted Home Affairs for comment.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong provided us with a statement.

“The Australian Government stands with the brave people of Iran in their struggle against oppression. They have suffered brutal acts of violence and intimidation, with women in particular being oppressed by the regime,” she said.

“We have called on the Iranian regime to protect its own people and allow for the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear of reprisal.

“We hope the Iranian team’s participation in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup will inspire future generations of young Iranians to continue to promote women’s rights and participation in sport.”

Shadow Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Senator Dave Sharma told the ABC in a statement Australia should consider any claims for asylum from the Iranian women’s team “seriously, in line with our obligations”.

"It would seem they have a well-founded fear of persecution on their return,” he said.

Amnesty International’s Mr Haidari said it would be challenging for the team members to apply for asylum.

“This is time for the Australian government to step up, and I'm sure the government will have resources to get in touch with them and offer that protection in a safe way because they're on Australian shores,” he said.

“Not all of them potentially will seek protection, right? Because it's a community and people have different opinions.

“But I think it's important once the Australian government receives a protection claim to provide them protection immediately, and that includes accommodation and a safe place for them to relocate.”

Calls for FIFA, AFC to weigh in

FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation have also been urged to act and use their influence.

FIFPRO is the global body representing professional footballers and player unions.

FIFPRO Asia/Oceania President Beau Busch told us the organisation reached out to FIFA and the AFC in early February, well before the tournament started, to discuss the human rights concerns for the Iranian women, but did not receive a response.

“What really should have occurred is prior to the tournament, there should have been a comprehensive human rights risk assessment undertaken, and it certainly would have picked this up,” Mr Busch told ABC Sport.

“And there should have been a lot of work done to see how these risks could be mitigated.

“But where we are now, what we need is two key things to happen. We need significant pressure to be applied to the Iranian Football Association and Iranian authorities regarding FIFA and AFC expectations regarding their safety if the players are to return.

“And we also need to see if there's any possibility around agency for the players to be able to remain in Australia for a period of time. But we know that could be really challenging.”

ABC Sport has reached out to FIFA and the AFC for comment.

Sarah Walsh is the COO of the local organising committee responsible for the delivery of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026.

“Visa and immigration matters sit with the government, and our role is to make sure [the players are] safe and the safeguarding around the team is paramount and for those reasons I probably won’t comment any further,” she told ABC Weekend Breakfast.

Mr Busch says it has been difficult for FIFPRO to directly contact the players since they’ve been in Australia, due to the heightened security presence around them.

“Really what [this situation] speaks to is the need for greater collaboration and partnership between the players associations such as FIFPRO and the players associations across Asia, and the Asian Football Confederation and FIFA,” he said.

“That relationship could be much stronger, and that would allow us to better manage these really challenging situations and safeguard the well-being and safety of our players.”

Trying to play on

Amongst it all, the team still pushes on, trying to focus on football.

Speaking at a media conference ahead of the game against the Philippines, coach Marziyeh Jafari admitted it had been a trying time while dealing with the news of the war in Iran.

“All players know what has happened to their country, and they are just worried about their families and what has happened to Iran,” she said.

“But players want to show their best performance, to be best representative for the country, and these tough games that Iran has, make people in Iran happy.”

Dr Ghamari hopes there will be a positive outcome.

“We are doing everything we can, and if it doesn't work, at least I know that I can sleep at night saying I did everything I could,” she said.

“People are trying to protest, people are thinking about going and finding them in different places, on the bus or on the plane, just to get the message to them that if you stay, you're gonna be safe and we'll take care of you.

“Somebody has to ask the question and say, ‘Why can't we talk to these girls? Who's stopping us in a free country?’”

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