Trump calls on Australia to give asylum to Iranian women's soccer team

Thomson Reuters

· Posted: Mar 09, 2026 11:36 AM EDT | Last Updated: 3 minutes ago

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Australia was "making a terrible humanitarian mistake" by allowing Iran's national ‌women's soccer team to be sent back home and called on Australia's prime minister to give asylum to team members.

The Iranians' campaign in the Australian-hosted ​Asian Cup tournament started just as the ​U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, killing the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The ​team was eliminated on Sunday after losing 2-0 to ⁠the Philippines.

"Australia is ⁠making a terrible humanitarian ‌mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed," Trump posted on Truth Social. "The U.S. ⁠will take them if you won’t."

Global players' union FIFPRO said earlier on Monday there were serious concerns for the welfare of ‌the team, as they prepared to return home after being labeled "wartime traitors" for refusing to sing their national anthem before a game.

The players' decision to stand in silence ​during Iran's anthem before their first match against South Korea was labeled by ⁠a commentator on Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting as the "pinnacle of ⁠dishonour."

Members of the Iranian women's football team are seen on a room balcony at the Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast in Australia on Monday. (AFP via Getty Images)

The team then sang the anthem and saluted before their ⁠second ⁠match against Australia, ​sparking fears among human rights campaigners that the women had been coerced ​by government minders.

Fans waved the pre-1979 Iranian flag, booed the national anthem and ​tried to prevent the team coach from leaving afterwards, chanting "Save our girls!" amid concerns for their safety after their anthem silence. More than 66,000 people have also signed a petition calling on ​the Australian government to ensure the players, who are on the Gold Coast in Queensland, do not ⁠leave "while credible fears for their ⁠safety remain."

"Traitors during wartime must be dealt with more severely," ⁠presenter Mohammad Reza Shahbazi said.

When they sang the anthem and saluted before their second match against Australia, it sparked ⁠fears among ⁠human rights campaigners the team had been ​coerced by government minders.

Iran coach Marziyeh Jafari has said they were keen to return home. "We are very impatiently waiting to return," ​she said during a post-match press ⁠conference. Most of the airspace in the Middle East remains closedas a result of the war.

When ⁠asked about whether Australia would grant the players asylum, Matt Thistlethwaite, the assistant minister for foreign affairs and trade, said the government could not "go into individual circumstances for privacy reasons."