Iranian soccer players forced back to Iran amid regime intimidation and death penalty fears
Fox News' Bryan Llenas reports on Iranian women's soccer players withdrawing asylum bids in Australia under intense pressure from Iran's regime.
Earlier this month, Australia granted asylum to five members of the Iranian women's soccer team who were visiting the country for a tournament when the U.S. and Israel launched a joint military campaign against the country.
The remaining members of the team faced uncertainty.
After the team was knocked out of the Women’s Asian Cup, most of the players who initially sought asylum later changed their minds.
On Wednesday, all but two ultimately returned to Iran after declining asylum offers in Australia, according to unconfirmed Iranian state media reports.
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Video circulating on social media showed the soccer players entering Iran after a flight landed in Turkey. Those same athletes were previously seen traveling through the country by bus shortly after the flight returned to Iran. Multiple officials were reportedly present at the border when the soccer team arrived.
Members of Iran's women's soccer team board a bus at Igdir airport to reach Dogubeyazit in Igdir March 18, 2026. (Ali Ihsan Ozturk/AFP via Getty Images)
Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh were the two members of the Iranian national team who reportedly elected to stay behind in Australia. Both have been training with the Brisbane Roar club.
Iran’s squad arrived in Australia for the tournament shortly before the war began Feb. 28. The team initially gained global attention after some players stayed silent during Iran’s national anthem before their first game.
Members of Iran's women's soccer team exit Igdir airport, waiting to reach Dogubeyazit, in Igdir March 18, 2026. (Ali Ihsan Ozturk/AFP via Getty Images)
When the team was knocked out of the tournament and faced the prospect of returning to a country under bombardment, calls grew for Australia’s government to offer the women asylum. Iranian groups in Australia and President Donald Trump were among those who expressed fears for the women’s safety.
Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref last week dismissed suggestions the women would be unsafe if they returned home, saying the country "welcomes its children with open arms and the government guarantees their security."
Trump also commented on the Iranian men’s team’s World Cup participation, suggesting last week that while the squad is "welcome" to compete in the U.S. after qualifying, it might not be "appropriate."
Iran's players pose for a team picture ahead of a FIFA World Cup 2026 Asia zone qualifiers Group A match against North Korea at the Azadi Sports Complex in Tehran June 10, 2025. (Atta Kenare/AFP)
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"The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety," Trump wrote in a post to Truth Social post March 12.
Iran's men's team is slated to play in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand June 15. It is also scheduled to face Belgium June 21 before finishing group play against Egypt in Seattle June 26. The U.S. is hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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