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President Donald Trump intervened on behalf of the Iranian women\u2019s national soccer team following reports that the players had been branded \u201cwartime traitors\u201d by Iranian state media.<\/p>\n
The president revealed on Monday that he had spoken with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on behalf of the Iranian women\u2019s soccer team, detailing the delicate situation for the young women.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just spoke to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, of Australia, concerning the Iranian National Women\u2019s Soccer Team. He\u2019s on it! Five have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way,\u201d the president shared<\/a>. \u201cSome, however, feel they must go back because they are worried about the safety of their families, including threats to those family members if they don\u2019t return. In any event, the Prime Minister is doing a very good job having to do with this rather delicate situation. God bless Australia!\u201d<\/p>\n Just hours before the call, Trump had weighed in, insisting that the Iranian women\u2019s soccer team be granted asylum in Australia.<\/p>\n \u201cAustralia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman\u2019s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed. Don\u2019t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM,\u201d Trump wrote<\/a> on Truth Social.<\/p>\n The president immediately followed up that post by sharing further details on the threats leveled against the women who dared to protest the despotic regime. He captioned the Truth Social post<\/a>, \u201cASYLUM!\u201d<\/p>\n Less than two hours later, Trump had Albanese on the phone.<\/p>\n The 26-member squad, currently in Australia for the Women\u2019s Asian Cup, sparked controversy during their opening match against South Korea by remaining silent during the national anthem. The act, widely viewed as a protest against the Islamic Republic, has triggered a vitriolic response from Tehran.<\/p>\n 3 days ago, Iran\u2019s Women\u2019s Soccer Team protested the Islamic Regime by refusing to sing the national anthem.<\/p>\n 2 days ago, Iranian state media branded the women \u201cwartime traitors.\u201d<\/p>\n Today, the women were desperately begging for help from inside the team bus. They are being\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/bZgZ5XGo5B<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 The Persian Jewess (@persianjewess) March 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Mohammad Reza Shahbazi, a presenter on state-controlled television, called<\/a> for the players to face \u201cstronger consequences\u201d for their \u201cshameless betrayal.\u201d Under Iran\u2019s penal code, charges of treason can carry the death penalty. Concerns for the players\u2019 safety have been further amplified by the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East, following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that began on February 28.<\/p>\n FIFPro, the global soccer players\u2019 union, has formally called on FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to ensure the team\u2019s protection. \u201cThese statements significantly heighten concerns for the players\u2019 safety should they return to Iran,\u201d the union said in a statement.<\/p>\n FIFPRO Asia\/Oceania has released the following statement calling on AFC and FIFA to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Iran’s Women’s National Team players. pic.twitter.com\/5izRBHvkOg<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FIFPRO Asia\/Oceania (@FIFPROAsiaOce) March 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n On the ground in Australia, the team is reportedly under intense surveillance. Human rights advocate and former Socceroos captain Craig Foster said<\/a> it is \u201cclear they are being silenced and coerced,\u201d noting that regime-connected \u201cminders\u201d are embedded with the squad, restricting their movement and phone use.<\/p>\n While the players remained silent during their first match, they were filmed singing the anthem loudly during subsequent games against Australia and the Philippines. Local councilor Tina Kordrostami, who has been in contact with some players, said the shift was a result of extreme intimidation. \u201cThey are all terrified, particularly for the safety of their family members back home,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The Australian government has maintained a cautious diplomatic stance. Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed solidarity with Iranian women but declined to comment<\/a> on whether the government has had direct contact with the players or if they will be offered asylum. \u201cWe know this regime has brutally murdered many of its own people,\u201d Wong told<\/a> the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. \u201cI don\u2019t want to get into commentary about the Iranian women\u2019s team [that might] put them or their families\u2026 in any greater danger.\u201d<\/p>\n The team\u2019s tournament concluded Sunday night on the Gold Coast. While some advocates have suggested Australia provide emergency humanitarian visas \u2014 similar to those granted to the Afghan women\u2019s team in 2021 \u2014 sources close to the squad indicate many players fear that seeking asylum would lead to the imprisonment or execution of their relatives in Iran.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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