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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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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