A fifth member of the Iran women’s national football team has withdrawn her asylum request in Australia, Australian media reported on Monday, and is expected to rejoin the rest of the squad in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Last week, six Iranian players and one member of the team’s support staff sought asylum in Australia, citing fears of possible persecution if they returned home. The concerns reportedly arose after some players did not sing the national anthem during a match at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup earlier this month.
With the latest withdrawal, only two individuals from the original group remain in Australia pursuing asylum claims. The five who have withdrawn their applications are expected to join their teammates in Kuala Lumpur, where the squad has been staying since leaving Sydney last week.
Australian Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said the government respects the decisions made by those who chose to withdraw their asylum claims while continuing to assist the two remaining individuals.
“This is a very complex situation,” he told local media.
Meanwhile, the Asian Football Confederation said the Iranian team may travel to another country from Malaysia, as they are currently unable to return directly to Tehran due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The Iranian Football Association said it expects the team to return home soon once travel arrangements are finalized. However, AFC General Secretary Windsor John noted that the team is still waiting for suitable flight connections and may need to consider alternative destinations before eventually returning to Iran.
John added that, based on conversations with team officials and players, there were no visible signs of fear or distress among the squad. He also said he could not confirm reports suggesting that the players’ families in Iran were facing pressure from authorities.
Iran’s participation in the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup coincided with escalating regional tensions following airstrikes by the United States and Israel on Iran. The team was eliminated from the tournament last week.
Earlier, Donald Trump had praised Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for allowing the players to remain in Australia and said the United States would be willing to accept them if needed.
