WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
This is Super Falcons’ chance for a third ever knock-out stage qualification
Eliminated Republic of Ireland meet Group B leaders Nigeria in Brisbane/Meaanjin on Monday.
While the Europeans are simply playing for pride, the African representatives need at least a draw to seal their qualification for the knockout stage.
Despite losing both of their matches so far in their debut campaign in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Irish can take plenty of heart from their performances against Australia and Canada.
Katie McCabe’s fourth minute goal against Canada, their first ever in the tournament, got them off to a bright start in their last match before the Olympic champions mounted an impressive comeback to win 2-1. In what is their final game before they depart Australia & New Zealand 2023, Vera Pauw’s team will want to go out in style.
Nigeria are in pole position to progress from Group B and they know that even a draw will do the job. They were impressive in their 3-2 win over joint hosts Australia in their last match and will now look to seal their spot in the round of 16.
KEY FACTS
- Katie McCabe became the first player to score a FIFA Women’s World Cup goal for the Republic of Ireland when she opened the scoring against Canada.
- Nigeria are aiming to reach the knockout rounds at successive FIFA Women’s World Cup final tournaments for the first time. They previously qualified from their group in 1999 and 2019.
- Nigeria’s total of four points is their best start to a FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign after two matches. Their highest points total after three matches is six, which they achieved in 1999.
- A win or a draw would mean Nigeria are unbeaten in three successive FIFA Women’s World Cup matches for the first time.
- If Nigeria qualify, they would become the first African nation to reach the knockout rounds on three occasions.
- Nigeria’s only previous win in 13 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches against European opposition was a 2 0 victory against Denmark in 1999.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND TEAM FACTS
- Overall record: Play 2, Win 0, Draw 0, Lost 2, Goals For 1, Goals Against 3, Goal Difference: -2
- Biggest win: Nil
- Biggest defeat: Republic of Ireland 0-2. Australia (20/07/2023) and Republic of Ireland 1-2 Canada (26/07/2023)
- Highest scoring match: 3 goals – Republic of Ireland 1-2 Canada (26/07/2023)
- Most goals scored in a match: 1 – Republic of Ireland 1-2 Canada (26/07/2023)
- Most goals conceded in a match: 2 – Republic of Ireland 1-2 Canada (26/07/2023)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 1 (2023 – 2 matches)
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 1 (2023 – 2 matches)
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 2 (2023 – 2 matches)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 2 (2023 – 2 matches)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: Nil
- Successive defeats: 2 (2023-present)
- Successive draws: 0
- Successive matches without a defeat: 0
- Successive matches without a win: 2 (2023-present)
- Successive matches with a goal scored: 1 (2023-present)
- Successive matches without scoring: 1 (2023)
- Successive clean sheets: 0
NIGERIA TEAM FACTS
- Overall record: Play28, Win 5, Draw 4, Lost 19, Goals For 23, Goals Against 65, Goal Difference -42
- Biggest win: 2-0Nigeria v. Denmark (27/06/1999)/2-0 Nigeria v. Korea Republic (12/06/2019)
- Biggest defeat: 0-8Nigeria v. Norway (06/06/1995)
- Highest scoring match: 8 goals – Nigeria 0-8 Norway (06/06/1995)/Nigeria 1-7 USA (24/06/1999)
- Most goals scored in a match: 3 – Nigeria 3-3 Canada (08/06/1995), Nigeria 3-4 Brazil, 01/07/1999), Nigeria 3-3 Sweden (08/06/2015)and Nigeria 3-2 Australia (27/07/2023)
- Most goals conceded in a match: 8 – Nigeria 0-8 Norway (06/06/1995)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 8 – 1999 (4 matches)
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 0 – 1991 and 2003 (3 matches)
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 14 – 1995 (3 matches)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 2 – 2011 (3 matches)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: 1 (five times, the last of which was 2023-present)
- Successive defeats: 4 (three times)
- Successive draws: 1 (four times, the last of which was 2023-present)
- Successive matches without a defeat: 2 (2011-2015, 2023-present)
- Successive matches without a win: 9 (1999-2011)
- Successive matches with a goal scored: 6 (1995-1999)
- Successive matches without scoring: 4 (1991-1995 and 2007-2011)
- Successive clean sheets: 1 (four times, the last of which was 2023-present)
The Iranian women’s soccer team crossed the Turkish border into Iran on Wednesday to complete a fraught return journey from Australia, after five members withdrew asylum claims they had lodged there.
Australia had granted humanitarian visas to six players and one support staff member after they sought asylum, saying they feared possible persecution if they returned to Iran.
Concerns over their safety surfaced when several players failed to sing the national anthem at a women’s Asian Cup match earlier this month after the United States and Israel launched the war against Iran. Iranian state television had labelled them “wartime traitors”.
The team, which flew into Istanbul on Tuesday, took a flight to Igdir in eastern Turkey on Wednesday morning.
The players emerged from Igdir Airport, pulling their luggage and chatted in front of the terminal before boarding a bus to the border. One of them briefly smiled and waved at a TV camera before the bus departed. After a trip of around two hours to the frontier, they went through passport control at the Gurbulak border gate before crossing over into Iran.
A bus carrying members of the Iranian women’s national soccer team arrives at the Gurbulak Border Gate, a crossing point between Turkey and Iran, as they travel to their home country after five players withdrew the asylum claims they had lodged in Australia over safety concerns about returning due to not singing the national anthem at a women’s Asian Cup match earlier this month, in the eastern Agri province, Turkey, March 18, 2026. REUTERS/Ali Ihsan Ozturk
The team’s Asian Cup campaign began just as the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They were eliminated from the tournament more than a week ago.
Five of those who had sought asylum in Australia subsequently changed their minds and decided to return home, with Australian media reporting the latest withdrawal on Monday.
They rejoined the rest of the squad in Kuala Lumpur, where the team had been staying since leaving Sydney last week.
The Iranian Football Association (FFIRI) said last week that those who had changed their minds would travel home with the rest of the team “to once again be embraced by their families and homeland.”
Two players are still in Australia and have been pictured training with a local A-League club.
-Reuters
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The two players from the Iranian women’s soccer squad who chose to remain in Australia after seeking asylum have been pictured training with a local A-League club as they begin their new lives in the country.
Midfielder Fatemeh Pasandideh and defender Atefeh Ramezanizadeh were among seven members of Iran’s delegation granted humanitarian visas amid fears of possible persecution if they returned home after competing in the women’s Asian Cup in Australia.
Concerns over their safety emerged after the players failed to sing their national anthem before their opening match on the Gold Coast in the state of Queensland. Iranian state media labelled them as “wartime traitors”, with the team’s campaign beginning as the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on Iran.
Five members of the group, however, subsequently changed their minds about Australia’s asylum offer and decided to return home.
Queensland-based A-League club Brisbane Roar announced on social media the remaining two players, Pasandideh and Ramezanizadeh, had joined a training session with its women’s team on Monday.
“Brisbane Roar officially welcomed both Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanizadeh to the club’s training facilities…and remain committed to providing a supportive environment for them whilst they navigate the next stages,” CEO Kaz Patafta said.
Photos posted by the club showed the two players meeting the Brisbane Roar squad and taking part in shooting drills.
“Thank you for everything,” wrote Ramezanizadeh, 33, under the post on Instagram.
Pasandideh, 21, also posted on her Instagram story on Monday a photo with FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis in Brisbane with a caption saying “everything will be fine”.
While the pair began their new lives in Australia, their former teammates made their way home to Iran from Malaysia.
The team was seen at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Monday evening, checking in on an Oman Air flight, although their destination was unclear.
-Reuters
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WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Three Iranian women soccer players to return home after seeking asylum in Australia
Three members of the Iranian women’s soccer team who had sought asylum in Australia have decided to return to Iran, Australia’s government said on Sunday.
Australia granted humanitarian visas to seven Iranian footballers last week after they sought asylum, saying they feared persecution if they returned home after they failed to sing the national anthem at a Women’s Asian Cup match.
Four of the seven members have decided to leave Australia so far. Another member changed her mind last week.
“After telling Australian officials they had made this decision, the players were given repeated chances to talk about their options,” Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement.
“While the Australian Government can ensure that opportunities are provided and communicated, we cannot remove the context in which the players are making these incredibly difficult decisions,” he added.
The Iranian Football Association (FFIRI) named the players as Mona Hamoudi, Zahra Sarbali and Zahra Meshkehkar.
“After arriving in Malaysia and joining the rest of Iran’s women’s national football team, the three players will travel to Tehran in the coming days to once again be embraced by their families and homeland,” FFIRI added in a statement.
The Iranian team’s campaign in the Asian Cup started just as the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, killing the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They were eliminated from the tournament last Sunday.
-Reuters
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