WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Statistical background as South Africa seek redemption in Argentina duel
Argentina and South Africa will both be looking to not only get off the mark in this edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup but earn their first-ever victories in the history of the tournament.
This will be Argentina’s 11th outing in four instalments of the competition, and the CONMEBOL representatives will see it as a good opportunity to get their first win under their belts in what is their inaugural contest against a team from Africa at the finals.
They will take heart from their opening performance against Italy, when they looked to be on course to hold their opponents to a creditable goalless draw, only to concede in the 87th minute.
South Africa were equally unfortunate to be on the receiving end of a late goal, having taken the lead early in the second half against Sweden before ultimately going down 2-1 to a 90th-minute winner.
They will, however, take confidence from their performance and look to bounce back in this Group G encounter.
- Head-to-Head: Both have never met
KEY FACTS
- This will be the first time that Argentina have faced African opposition at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
- Argentina have yet to win a FIFA Women’s World Cup match in ten attempts (Draw: 2,Lost 8).
- Against Italy, Argentina’s Vanina Correa became the oldest goalkeeper to have made an appearance at the finals, at the age of 39 years and 344 days.
- Each of Argentina’s five goals at the finals have been scored in the second half. Their earliest goal to date was scored by Eva González in the 60th minute of their 6-1 defeat against England in 2007.
- This is South Africa’s first FIFA Women’s World Cup match against South American opposition.
- Against Sweden, Bambanani Mbane became the oldest player to have featured in a FIFA Women’s World Cup match for South Africa, at the age of 33 years and 133 days.
ARGENTINA TEAM FACTS
- Overall record: Play 10, Win 0, Draw 2, Lost 8, Goals For: 5, Goals Against: 38, Goal Difference: -33
- Biggest win: nil
- Biggest defeat: Argentina 0-11Germany (10/09/2007)
- Highest scoring match: 11 goals – Argentina 0-11 Germany (10/09/2007)
- Most goals scored in a match: 3 – Argentina 3-3 Scotland (19/06/2019)
- Most goals conceded in a match: 11 – Argentina 0-11 Germany (10/09/2007)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 3 – 2019 (3 matches)
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 1 – 2003 (3 matches) and 2007 (3 matches)
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 18 – 2007 (3 matches)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 4 – 2019 (3 matches)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: nil
- Successive defeats: 6 (2003-2007)
- Successive draws: 1 (twice, both in 2019)
- Successive matches without a defeat: 1 (twice, both in 2019) Successive matches without a win: 10 (2003-present)
- Successive matches with a goal scored: 1 (2003, 2007 and 2019)
- Successive matches without scoring: 2 (2003, 2007 and 2019)
- Successive clean sheets: 1 (2019)
SOUTH AFRICA TEAM FACTS
- Overall record: Play 4, Win 0, Draw 0, Lost 4, Goals For: 2, Goals Against: 10, Goals Difference: -8
- Biggest win: nil
- Biggest defeat: South Africa 04. Germany (17/06/2019)
- Highest scoring match: 4 goals – South Africa 1-3 Spain (08/06/2019)/South Africa 0-4 Germany (17/06/2019)
- Most goals scored in a match: 1 – South Africa 1-3 Spain (08/06/2019)/South Africa 1-2 Sweden (23/07/2023)
- Most goals conceded in a match: 4 – South Africa 0-4 Germany (17/06/2019)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 1 – 2019 (3 matches) and 2023 (1 match)
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 1 – 2019 (3 matches) and 2023 (1 match)
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 8 – 2019 (3 matches)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 8 – 2019 (3 matches)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: nil
- Successive defeats: 4 (2019-present)
- Successive draws: 0
- Successive matches without a defeat: 0
- Successive matches without a win: 4 (2019-present)
- Successive matches with a goal scored: 1 (2019 and 2023-present)
- Successive matches without scoring: 2 (2019)
- Successive clean sheets: 0
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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