The global representative organisation for professional footballers, FIFPRO, has urged governing bodies responsible for the 2026 Women’s Asian Football Confederation Cup to protect the Iran national team after they were labelled “wartime traitors” by an Iranian state ‌television presenter.

Both FIFA, world football’s governing body, and the AFC have been called upon to “undertake all necessary steps to ensure the safety of Iran’s Women’s National Team players”.

The Iran women’s national football team players did not sing their national anthem before their Asian Cup opener against South Korea in Australia earlier ⁠this week.

Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting presenter Mohammad Reza Shahbazi said in a video that the players showed a lack of patriotism and their actions amounted to the “pinnacle of dishonour” in footage circulating widely on social media.

“Let me ⁠just say one thing: traitors during wartime ⁠must be dealt with more severely,” Shahbazi said.

“Anyone who takes a step against the country under war conditions must be dealt with more severely. Like this matter of ⁠our women’s football team not singing the national anthem … these people must be dealt with more ⁠severely.”

In a statement released on the social media platform X, FIFPRO released a strong and lengthy statement outlining its concerns.

“In addition to the dangerous situation the players would face if they return to Iran following the tournament, FIFPRO Asia/Oceania is deeply concerned by reports that Iranian state television has publicly attacked the members of the team for remaining silent during the national anthem before their opening match,” the statement read.

“Footage circulating online shows Mohammad Reza Shahbazi, a state TV presenter, calling for them to face the ‘stigma of dishonour and betrayal’.

“These statements significantly heighten concerns for the players’ safety should they return to Iran after the tournament.

“FIFPRO Asia/Oceania has once again written to the AFC and FIFA, calling on them to uphold their human rights obligations under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and FIFA’s Human Rights Policy and protect the players.

“We call on the AFC and FIFA to urgently engage with the Iranian Football Association, the Australian Government and all other relevant authorities to ensure that every effort is made to protect the safety of the players.”

The Iranian players stood in silence when Iran’s anthem was played at the Gold Coast ahead of their 3-0 opening loss to South ‌Korea on Monday, though they sang and saluted before a 4-0 defeat by hosts Australia three days later.

The Reuters news agency has contacted both the Asian Football Confederation, the Iranian football federation and the team at the Asian Cup for comment.

Ahead of their game against Australia, Iran forward Sara Didar fought ‌back tears and spoke about the war, while coach Marziyeh Jafari said her players were doing their best to focus on the ‌tournament ‌despite concern for their families back home.

Iran face the Philippines on Sunday in their final group match.

-Aljazeera

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An Iranian state television presenter has labelled the women’s national soccer team as “wartime traitors” after the players did not sing their ​national anthem before their Asian Cup opener against South Korea ‌in Australia earlier this week.

Iran are playing in the continental tournament even as a military conflict escalates back home after the United States and Israel launched air strikes ​over the weekend, killing the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ali ​Khamenei.

Their players stood in silence when Iran’s anthem was played ⁠at the Gold Coast ahead of their 3-0 opening loss ​to South Korea on Monday, though they sang and saluted before a ​4-0 defeat by hosts Australia three days later.

Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting presenter Mohammad Reza Shahbazi said in a video that the players showed a lack of ​patriotism and their actions amounted to the “pinnacle of dishonour” in footage ​circulating widely on social media.

“Let me just say one thing: traitors during wartime ‌must ⁠be dealt with more severely,” Shahbazi said.

“Anyone who takes a step against the country under war conditions must be dealt with more severely. Like this matter of our women’s football team not singing the national ​anthem … these people ​must be dealt ⁠with more severely.”

Reuters has contacted the Asian Football Confederation for comment. Reuters has also contacted the Iranian ​football federation and the team at the Asian Cup ​for ⁠comment.

Ahead of their game against Australia, Iran forward Sara Didar fought back tears and spoke about the war, while coach Marziyeh Jafari said her ⁠players ​were doing their best to focus on the ​tournament despite concern for their families back home.

Iran face the Philippines on Sunday in their ​final group match.

–Reuters

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Nigeria women’s national under-20 football team, Falconets, moved a step closer to the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland after defeating Senegal 2-1 in Diamniadio on Saturday evening to secure a 3-1 aggregate victory.

The two-time FIFA U-20 World Cup runners-up progressed to the final round of the African qualifiers with an assured performance at the Annexe Stade Abdoulaye Wade, building on their 1-0 first-leg win in Abeokuta a week earlier.

Kindness Ifeanyi, who scored the decisive goal in the first leg at the MKO Abiola Stadium, once again proved pivotal. The forward opened the scoring in the 19th minute, powering home a header from a corner kick to silence the home crowd and hand Nigeria early control of the tie.

Precious Oscar extended the advantage in the second half, also rising to convert from a corner delivered by defender Tumininu Adeshina, as the Falconets underlined their aerial dominance and tactical discipline.

Senegal reduced the deficit with about 15 minutes remaining, but the goal proved only a consolation as Nigeria maintained their composure to see out the contest and confirm their place in the final qualifying round.

Awaiting the Falconets in the decisive stage are Malawi’s U-20 girls, who edged past Guinea Bissau in their own fixture to advance. The winner of the final-round clash will secure one of Africa’s four slots at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup scheduled for Poland in September 2026.

With momentum and experience on their side, the Falconets will now turn their focus to the final hurdle on the road to Poland.

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