Camille Naredo

Action between Iran and the Philippines in Group A of the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026, March 8, 2026 at the Gold Coast Stadium. PFF-PWNFT

Action between Iran and the Philippines in Group A of the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026, March 8, 2026 at the Gold Coast Stadium.

Article (news)

AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1773038205881EM-07042.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Action between Iran and the Philippines in Group A of the AFC Women&#x27;s Asian Cup 2026, March 8, 2026 at the Gold Coast Stadium. PFF-PWNFT" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Action between Iran and the Philippines in Group A of the AFC Women&#x27;s Asian Cup 2026, March 8, 2026 at the Gold Coast Stadium.<em> PFF-PWNFT</em></span></span></span></div><p>GOLD COAST -- Australia must protect the visiting Iranian women&#x27;s football team, the son of the nation&#x27;s late shah urged Monday, warning their refusal to sing the national anthem before a match could have &quot;dire consequences.&quot;</p><p>Iranian players refused to sing ahead of an Asian Cup tournament match in Australia last week -- a gesture widely seen as an act of defiance against the Islamic republic.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/3/8/filipinas-get-breakthrough-win-vs-iran-stay-in-hunt-in-women-s-asian-cup-1901">READ: Filipinas get breakthrough win vs. Iran, stay in hunt in Women&#x27;s Asian Cup</a></div><p>US-based Reza Pahlavi lent his voice to a growing chorus calling for Australia to offer the women asylum, joining politicians, human rights activists, and even &quot;Harry Potter&quot; author J.K. Rowling.</p><p>&quot;The members of the Iranian Women&#x27;s National Football Team are under significant pressure and ongoing threat from the Islamic Republic,&quot; said Pahlavi, the son of the last shah of Iran.</p><p>&quot;I call on the Australian government to ensure their safety and give them any and all needed support,&quot; he said on social media.</p><p>Pahlavi, who has not returned to Iran since before the 1979 Islamic revolution that ousted the monarchy, has billed himself as the man to lead a democratic transition to a secular Iran as the theocratic regime fights to survive.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>- &#x27;Save our girls&#x27; -</strong></div><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=AB0CySgg6HbvXjRX"></script></div><p>Iranian players refused to sing as their anthem was played ahead of a game against South Korea two days after the US and Israel began a war against the country.</p><p>In response, a presenter on Iranian state television branded the side &quot;wartime traitors&quot;.</p><p>Crowds banged drums and shouted &quot;regime change for Iran&quot; as they gathered outside the Gold Coast stadium where the side played their last match over the weekend.</p><p>They then surrounded the Iranian team bus, chanting &quot;let them go&quot; and &quot;save our girls&quot;.</p><p>On Monday, an AFP journalist saw members of the team speaking on the phones from the balcony of their hotel.</p><p>Canberra has so far declined to comment on whether it could offer the players asylum.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/3/9/pope-prays-roar-of-the-bombs-in-middle-east-will-cease-0013">READ: Pope prays &#x27;roar of the bombs&#x27; in Middle East will cease</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/3/9/iran-names-khamenei-s-son-as-new-supreme-leader-0801">READ: Iran names Khamenei&#x27;s son as new supreme leader</a></div><p>Asked about their case on Sunday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia &quot;stands in solidarity&quot; with the people of Iran.</p><p>A spokesperson for Australia&#x27;s Home Affairs department told AFP it &quot;cannot comment on the circumstances of individuals&quot;.</p><p>Amnesty International campaigner Zaki Haidari said they faced persecution, or worse, if they were sent home.</p><p>&quot;Some of these team members probably have had their families already threatened,&quot; Haidari told AFP.</p><p>&quot;Them going back... who knows what sort of punishment they will receive?&quot;</p><p>Despite being heavily monitored, the side would have a &quot;small window of opportunity&quot; to seek asylum at the airport, he said.</p><p>Author J.K. Rowling said &quot;please, protect these young women&quot; in a post on social media.</p><p>Iran&#x27;s embassy in Australia did not respond to a request for comment.</p>

<p>Australia must protect the visiting Iranian women's football team, the son of the nation's late shah urged Monday, warning their refusal to sing the national anthem before a match could have "dire consequences."</p>

Australia must protect the visiting Iranian women's football team, the son of the nation's late shah urged Monday, warning their refusal to sing the national anthem before a match could have "dire consequences."

Pressure builds for Australia to offer Iran women's football team asylum

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Pressure builds for Australia to offer Iran women's football team asylum

Agence France-Presse

Published March 09, 2026 03:12 PM PHT

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Updated March 09, 2026 03:23 PM PHT

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