AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026: Trump calls for asylum for Iran women’s team after exiting tournament

President Donald Trump said Monday that Australia «made a terrible humanitarian mistake» by allowing the Iranian women’s national football team to be sent home, and called on the Australian prime minister to grant asylum to team members.

The Iranians’ campaign in the Australian-hosted Asian Cup tournament began just as the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, killing the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The team was eliminated on Sunday after a 2-0 defeat against the Philippines.

“Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iranian women’s national soccer team to be sent back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The US will take them if you don’t.”

READ ALSO: The Iranian women’s team sings the national anthem after a backlash and leaves the Asian Cup with a loss

Global players’ union FIFPRO said earlier on Monday there were serious concerns for the team’s welfare as they prepared to return home after being branded «wartime traitors» for refusing to sing their national anthem before a match.

The players’ decision to remain silent during the Iranian national anthem before their first match against South Korea was labeled the «height of dishonor» by a commentator on the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.

The team then sang the national anthem and saluted before the second match against Australia, raising fears among human rights activists that the women had been coerced by government officials.

When asked whether Australia would grant the players asylum, Matt Thistlethwaite, the assistant minister for foreign affairs and trade, said the government «could not comment on individual circumstances for privacy reasons» rfv13.

Published on March 9, 2026