Iran women’s national football team is set to leave Kuala Lumpur on Monday night, ending days of uncertainty after most of the seven squad members who sparked a diplomatic row by seeking asylum in Australia reversed their decisions and rejoined the team.
Asian Football Confederation general secretary Windsor John told the Associated Press that the team’s departure had been arranged by the Iranian embassy. He said the AFC, which has been supporting the Iranian team in Kuala Lumpur, had been told the players would fly to Oman, though that was not their final destination.
Asked whether the confederation was satisfied that the players would be safe on returning to Iran, Windsor said both the AFC and FIFA would remain in contact with the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran.
“They are our girls as well,” he said.
The squad had flown from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur on March 10 after being knocked out of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, initially leaving behind six players and a support staff member who had accepted protection visas.
Four players and the staff member have since rejoined the team in Kuala Lumpur, with the latest arriving on Monday. No reasons have been given for the changes of mind, though members of the Iranian diaspora in Australia have blamed pressure from Tehran.
Speaking earlier at a news conference, Windsor said the AFC had not received any direct complaints from players about returning home, despite reports that their families in Iran could face retaliation after the team failed to sing the national anthem before its opening match.
The silence during the anthem was variously reported as an act of protest or a show of mourning. The team did not clarify the reason but sang the anthem before a later match.
“We couldn’t verify anything. We asked them and they said, ‘No, it’s OK,’” Windsor said. “They are actually in high spirits. They didn’t look afraid.”
Iranian authorities have welcomed the players’ decisions to withdraw their asylum bids, portraying it as a political victory against Australia and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Iran’s squad had arrived in Australia shortly before the war in the Middle East began on February 28, complicating travel arrangements.
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Australian Assistant Immigration Minister Matt Thistlethwaite described the situation as “very complex”.
“These are deeply personal decisions, and the government respects the decisions of those that have chosen to return. We continue to offer support to the two who are remaining,” he said.
Those who stayed in Australia have been moved to an undisclosed location and are receiving assistance from the government and the Iranian diaspora community.
Kylie Moore-Gilbert of Macquarie University said the focus on political narratives had overshadowed concerns about the players’ welfare.
“The high stakes made the Iranian regime sit up and pay attention and try to force their hand in response,” she said.
Iran’s Tasnim News Agency said the players who left Australia were “returning to the warm embrace of their family and homeland”, describing their return as a failure of what it called an American-Australian political effort.
The Australian government had been urged by Iranian groups in Australia and by Trump to assist the players.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cut diplomatic ties with Iran in August after announcing that intelligence officials had concluded the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had directed arson attacks on a Sydney kosher food company and Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue in 2024.
Published on Mar 16, 2026
