Trump urges Australia to grant asylum to Iranian women’s soccer team
US President Donald Trump urged Australia to grant asylum to members of Iran’s national women’s soccer team, saying they would face grave danger if returned to Iran.
“Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed,” Trump wrote on X. “Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM. The US will take them if you won’t.”
His remarks came after the office of Prince Reza Pahlavi confirmed five players — Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh and Mona Hamoudi — had left the team’s training camp and sought refuge in Australia. According to the statement, the players said they had joined what was described as Iran’s “Lion and Sun Revolution.”
There has been mounting concern over the team’s safety after several players stood in silence and did not sing Iran’s national anthem before an Asian Cup match in Australia, drawing criticism from Iranian state media.
Global players’ union FIFPRO has said it is “really concerned” about the team’s welfare and has been unable to contact the players. A petition urging Australia to protect the squad has gathered tens of thousands of signatures.
