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Iran women's team lands in Malaysia amid asylum talks

Farid Zuchrinata with DPAE, AP
March 11, 2026

The Iranian women's football team has split between Malaysia and Australia after their Asian Cup exit. Some players remain in Australia under humanitarian visas, while the rest await a flight home amid safety concerns.

https://p.dw.com/p/5AA9n
The Iranian women's football team arriving in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. March 2026.
The Asian Football Confederation said it is focusing on 'the welfare and safety of the players and officials.'Image: Mohd Rasfan/AFP/Getty Images

Members of the Iranian women's national football team landed in Malaysia on Wednesday after their Asian Cup elimination and are awaiting a flight home as Iran's airspace remains closed amid US and Israeli strikes.

They were received in Kuala Lumpur by Iran's ambassador to Malaysia, Valiollah Mohammadi, and are staying in a hotel while travel plans are finalized.

Anthem protest and asylum offer

Six players and one staff member remain in Australia after accepting humanitarian visas offered by the Australian government. Another player initially accepted Australia's asylum offer but changed her mind at the last minute.

The team was offered asylum after some players remained silent during the Iranian national anthem before their opening match — a gesture that led Iranian state television to call them "wartime traitors."

Fearing possible persecution if they returned home, the Australian government offered the squad humanitarian visas.

Some members, officials told the Associated Press, were not granted visas — reportedly because of ties to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

After the opening game, the players sang the anthem in subsequent matches but have not publicly explained their actions or shared their views.

Iran's players salute during the national anthem before the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 football match between Iran and Philippines in Gold Coast on March 8, 2026
The Iranian women's team was in Australia for a match against the PhilippinesImage: Str/AFP

'Come home' — Iran's foreign minister

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, has called the team to "come home."

"Don't worry — Iran awaits you with open arms," Baqaei wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Iran's governing football body says Australia held the players as “hostages” and coerced them to abandon their country.

Rights groups have long accused Iranian authorities of pressuring athletes abroad by threatening relatives or seizing property if they defect or speak out against the Islamic Republic.

Team members who chose to stay in Australia, Burke said, would not face a legal battle for permanent residency and would receive health, housing and other support in the country.

Edited by: Richard Connor, Alex Berry